Labour accommodations must be at least 5 kilometres away from residential areas: Ministry

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), in the new issue of its electronic magazine "Labour Market," indicated that workers' housing must be located at a distance of no less than five kilometres from family housing.

MoHRE also stressed the need to avoid locations near sources of environmental pollution, rainwater drainage, and floods, and to be close to industrial areas and efficient road networks.

MoHRE emphasised the necessity of providing diverse services and facilities which contribute to improving workers' living conditions and organising labour housing sites and their surrounding infrastructure, to achieve the highest levels of safety and comfort.

The most prominent requirements is the provision of free internet service, allowing workers to communicate with their families, complete their digital transactions, and benefit from various electronic services, MoHRE noted.

It also highlighted the importance of organising recreational events and social and cultural activities during official holidays, which plays a role in enhancing psychological and social stability.

A 24-hour medical clinic must also be provided in housing units accommodating 1,000 workers or more, as well as playgrounds and financial service devices, contributing to the provision of an integrated living environment, MoHRE added, stressing the importance of operating entities obtaining all necessary permits from specialised government bodies to use properties as worker housing, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and laws.

In the context of enhancing safety and regulating movement, MoHRE also emphasised the need to provide sufficient and safe spaces for vehicle movement, while considering ease of entry and exit, bus and car parking, and ensuring access for emergency, ambulance, and civil defence vehicles, in response to emergency situations and to maintain safety.