Business & Money | Wednesday 16 December, 2015 12:22 pm |

Anan Iskan is gearing up its drive to raise the safety and living standards of workers’ accommodation in Saudi Arabia. In light of recent fires at low standard accommodation that claimed the lives of some 50 workers.  Anan Iskan is the first company in the KSA to adopt the new government key standards that needed to be taken into consideration, as a baseline which had been set out by the Ministry of Municipalities and Rural Affairs on its website. Although it is quite unusual to find regulations specifically covering workers’ accommodation internationally, Saudi Arabia is developing best practices in addition to existing laws on general construction standards which are also relevant.

 

“Today very clear regulations for worker’s accommodation and welfare exist in the Kingdom,” said CEO Engineer Faisal A. Alsayegh. He goes on to state that ensuring good standards in living facilities is important in order to avoid safety hazards and to protect workers from diseases and/or illness resulting from humidity, bad/stagnant water (or lack of water), cold, spread of fungus, proliferation of insects or rodents, as well as to maintain a good level of morale. The location of the facilities is important to prevent exposure to residential areas and from sand storms, fire, flood and other natural hazards. It is also important that workers’ accommodation is unaffected by the environmental or operational impacts of the worksite (for example noise, emissions or dust). Living facilities should be built using adequate materials and should always be kept in good repair, clean and free from rubbish and other refuse. 

 

“It is in line with recent Government regulations as well as making sound financial sense that the care and welfare of the labour force should be a priority in any successful business model,” said Alsayegh.  “The supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Fit and well-rested workers yield higher output and efficiency. Good accommodation that provides this is therefore both a humane and profitable investment in a strong supply-chain rather than simply a cost.”

 

Anan Iskan’s ISO worker accommodation units are certificated, re-usable and transportable and can be reused elsewhere after the completion of a project. Moreover, the company augments its housing solutions with optional management and maintenance services for employers who seek the expertise of housing professionals to maintain a healthy and satisfied workforce.

 

Alsayegh noted that Anan Iskan was established in accordance with world-class standards for workers’ accommodation. “These have been implemented in all our projects. We have a total commitment to the new regulations adopted by Ministry of Municipalities and Rural Affairs, Ministry of the interior and Civil Defence requirements as well as all existing building codes.”