Taxi Drivers – ULLA DEVENTER

More than 80% of the population in Abu Dhabi are expats. They mostly arrive from Pakistan, India or Egypt with the deep hope to achieve a better salary, that would enable them to support their families. Instead, they often face a different reality: as the employers are collecting their passports as a kind of deposit for the travel expenses, they are gaining the total control over their employees. A return trip home would entail high debts for the employees. These expats often live and work in degrading and inhuman conditions in various fields, such as on the construction side, as taxi drivers, cleaning personnel or house maids. A seven days week with twelve hours of work are usual, in addition to the obligation to follow strict work regulations.

I spoke with many of them, but very few dared to talk openly, for fear of their bosses. Almost nobody told me where their residences were situated, as these camps were strictly hidden places in the desert zones. No outsider would be allowed to get access to these places. In early mornings and at night, you could observe the employees waiting sometimes for hours in the streets for their busses, who bring them to work or back home.

Over the time of my research, I became well acquainted with a taxi driver from Pakistan who told me openly about his everyday working life. As he is still working for Tawasul Taxi today, he prefers to remain anonymous.

Finally he was able to smuggled me into his camp, situated in the industrial area of Mussafah City: Securities were controlling the property. When we entered the concrete building, an acrid smell of urine and vomit was in the air, in combination with high humidity and heat. I entered a room where 12 men shared one bedroom.

Some of them agreed getting portrayed in front of my camera. I was told immediately that at the same time 100 taxi drivers were on strike against Tawasul for better working conditions and an acceptable contract.

According to them, the company would not stop causing the drivers serious problems. Salaries would only be partially paid. Contract agreements for day offs and 8-hour days would never be respected. At least 15 up to 18 hours shifts would be necessary to achieve the daily workload. Extra hours would be the norm. Salary reductions would be the consequences when any of the conditions would not be fulfilled. Moreover, the right of healthcare would not be guaranteed: the taxi drivers would have to cover half of the costs. In addition, the health insurance would only cover doctors in the suburbs of Abu Dhabi, which are very difficult to reach. On the contrary, even minor dents in the car would mean a reduction in salary. Therefore, daily car inspections in the evening would be the routine.

The Pakistani taxi driver didn’t join the strike. Since his father died, who taught him driving and who used to run a driving company, he is supporting his family in Pakistan. He pays the study of his brother, who lost all his savings through his gambling addiction. His mother is unemployed. “I am very tired, but I work very hard day by day, I do my best. …”

Every evening after work he goes to his favourite place at the harbour and enjoys the peace. Right after, he cleans his car, prays, eats and goes to sleep. Since he is working less than three month for Tawasul, he still shares his car with another driver. There is a shift change every 12 hours. After this period of probation a driver has the right for his own car. According to Tawasul this is an advantage for the drivers and would adjust their working hours more flexible. In reality it enables to work more than 12 hours in order to achieve the daily workload.

Taxis are the most frequented transports in the UAE. Only very few tourists are using busses that are ironically reserved for the expats.