(photo credit: The New York Times)

In August 2017, the New York Times reported on labour rights abuses at the Trump International Golf Club in Damac Hills in Dubai. According to the allegations, migrant workers employed by Al Arif Contracting (a subcontractor working on the project) experienced frequent delays in payment of wages, confiscation of their passports, and sub-standard housing. Six of the workers interviewed had paid recruitment fees to agents in order to secure employment. In a statement to the New York Times, a company spokesperson for Trump Organization responded saying: “Trump is not the owner or developer of Trump International Golf Club Dubai nor does it oversee construction or employ or supervise any of the companies or individuals who have been retained to work on the building of the project...Trump has a zero-tolerance policy...To the extent any worker at the project believes they are being treated improperly, we would urge them to immediately notify their employer and the proper governmental authorities.”

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Damac Properties and Al Arif Group to respond to the allegations and invited Trump Organization to provide further comment. Only Damac Properties responded.