Title: Migrant Workers in Dubai

Recapping from the previous lesson:

1. Which country is Dubai in?
2. What is the Burj Khalifa?
3. What industry did Dubai originally become wealthy from in the 1960s?

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Recapping the learning from earlier in the course:

1. In which county do we all live?
2. What is the name of the body of water that separates us from France?

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Challenge Activity

DO NOW: Work on your own to answer these questions in full sentences in your book.

What does the term ‘migrant worker’ mean?

Answers to slide 6

1.Dubai is in the United Arab Emirates and is the most populous city in the UAE. It is located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf. Dubai is the capital of the Emirate (there are 7 emirates).

2. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the highest skyscraper in the world. Its height is 829.8 m (2,722 ft).

3. The Industry Dubai originally become wealthy from was oil which was then used to develop trade, banking, industry and projects such as an international airport.

(Recapping Learning:)

UK (country) East Sussex (County) and the English Channel

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The Burj Khalifa - prices from $650 (£513.10) to $10,000 for multi room suites

Title: Migrant Workers in Dubai

DO NOW: Using your table, answer the following questions

1. Which country has the better healthcare system?
2. Which country has the better education system
3. Which country has greater gender inequality?
4. In which country are you more likely to catch a waterborne disease?
5. In what country are you more likely to have an internet connection and working air conditioning?

Migrant Workers in Dubai are treated very poorly. On average, they earn $1800 per year. Compare this with the average wage of $37,000 in the UAE, it is very poor.

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Despite their low wage, migrants often work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. Their wages are so low, and hours so long, it is often described as “modern slavery”.

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So if it’s so bad, why don’t they leave? There is a reason. Employees are hired in South-East Asian countries (such as India) by large companies on 3 or 5 year contracts. Upon arrival in Dubai, their passports are often confiscated, only given back once they have completed their contract. This means they are unable to travel, and escape.

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To top everything off, the migrants work and live in horrible conditions. They live in small, boiling rooms, often with 8 or more people in it. The working conditions are dangerous, in 2005 881 migrant construction workers died in a single year.

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1. How much do migrant workers earn on average, compared to the national average?

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• Why is migrant work in the UAE described as modern slavery?

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• How do companies in the UAE trap migrant workers?

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• What are the living and working conditions like in the UAE for migrant workers?
• Extension: Overall, do you believe that migrant workers are better off staying in Pakistan, or moving to the UAE?

So why do migrants choose to take these jobs?

Remittance

• Remittances are payments of money sent from one party to another, typically from migrants to their families or friends in their home countries.

Costs

(disadvantages of migrant worker)

Benefits

(advantages of migrant worker)

Wages can be sent back to family in Pakistan to support children's education (remittances)

Working conditions are very unsafe.

A pre-existing community of workers make new workers feel at home.

Wages are significantly higher in the UAE than in Pakistan or Nepal.

Often, migrant workers will not see their families for many years.

Migrant workers can be abused by their employers.

What do the words in bold mean?

Migrant workers are often not given all the wages they have earnt completing a job

Select the costs and benefits and place them under the correct heading

Using the Advantages and Disadvantages of Migrant Workers in Dubai, assess (weigh up) the costs and benefits of migrant workers moving to the UAE (8)

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Gap fill exercise

Many migrant workers move to the UAE for the _______ _____they receive. Often, these wages are sent home to their country of origin in the form of remittances. These remittances allow their family to have a ____ _______ __ ____ (such as being able to afford nicer housing) and pay for their _______ ______which allows them to have greater opportunities in their adult life.

However, the _______ _______ in the UAE are often very unsafe. For example, construction jobs involve working outside in very hot conditions. Occasionally, this has led to the ____ __ _____ ______. Furthermore, often wages are withheld from the workers illegally, which means their pay is significantly lower than expected and they are unable to _____ _____ _____as intended.

Overall, the ____ ______ ____ ______. Whilst the increased wages do allow workers to support their families better, the risk of death and abuse that comes with the work is not worth it.

increased wage

costs outweigh the benefits.

support their families

high quality of life

children's education

working condition

death of migrant workers

Model Answer

Many migrant workers move to the UAE for the increased wage they receive. Often, these wages are sent home to their country of origin in the form of remittances. These remittances allow their family to have a high quality of life (such as being able to afford nicer housing) and pay for their children's education, which allows them to have greater opportunities in their adult life.

However, the working conditions in the UAE are often very unsafe. For example, construction jobs involve working outside in very hot conditions. Occasionally, this has led to the death of migrant workers. Furthermore, often wages are withheld from the workers illegally, which means their pay is significantly lower than expected and they are unable to support their families as intended.

Overall, the costs outweigh the benefits. Whilst the increased wages do allow workers to support their families better, the risk of death and abuse that comes with the work is not worth it.

Who is building Dubai?

Today we are learning the term

‘Sustainability ’

Sustainability is most often talked about in relation to the environment. Humans use natural resources on Earth for different purposes, such as food, energy production and fuel for transport. However some resources are finite, meaning that, eventually, they will run out. Humans are currently using resources like oil and gas quicker than they can be naturally replenished - which is unsustainable.

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‘Sustainability’

Let’s practise saying the word

“Sus - tain - a - bil - i -ty”

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Sustainability

Word class of word (noun)

Sustainability is the practice of using natural resources responsibly, so that they can support both the present and future generations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBkmOhOk8nk

Sustainability video - Eco friendly habits (5.5 length)

Which of the following is an incorrect use of the term ‘Sustainability’?

1. Using wind turbines to create energy is an example of sustainability.
2. The average person in the UK uses a sustainable amount of resources.
3. Sustainability only links to the environment.
4. Recycling and using cars are both sustainable practices.

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Extension

Rewrite the incorrect sentence so it uses the word correctly.

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You have previously learnt the word ‘Migrant’

1. What does it mean?

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• Write down 2 examples sentences that contain this term.

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A migrant is a person who moves from one place to another because…

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An international migrant is….