DUBAI - The departure of tens of thousands of illegal foreign workers from the United Arab Emirates under an amnesty has created a labour shortage in the country's booming construction sector.
"It is creating an impact on construction sites... About 300,000 workers have evaporated from the market," said Mike Cairney, director of EC Harris construction consultancy firm in Dubai.
"A lot of workers who have taken advantage of the amnesty have been working in construction," he told AFP, and said that complaints about a lack of workers have already been heard on building sites.
The UAE said this week that nearly 279,000 illegal labourers had taken advantage of a three-month amnesty to either formalise their status or leave the country.
Some 185,000 of those were based in Dubai, which is currently undergoing a construction frenzy. Full Story - Synergen Consulting International
"It is creating an impact on construction sites... About 300,000 workers have evaporated from the market," said Mike Cairney, director of EC Harris construction consultancy firm in Dubai.
"A lot of workers who have taken advantage of the amnesty have been working in construction," he told AFP, and said that complaints about a lack of workers have already been heard on building sites.
The UAE said this week that nearly 279,000 illegal labourers had taken advantage of a three-month amnesty to either formalise their status or leave the country.
Some 185,000 of those were based in Dubai, which is currently undergoing a construction frenzy. Full Story - Synergen Consulting International
