Nearly 5,500 companies have been fined by authorities to uphold rights for labourers. Abu Dhabi has invested about $5.4bn in 23 labour cities which are capable of providing accommodation for 385,000 workers.
The communiqué said that 5,470 companies were fined between June 2010 and May 2012 for violations of living standards, while 648 companies undertook remedial actions.
The news agency said the current occupancy of the labour cities in the UAE capital was 195,000 workers, or 51 percent, without citing a source for the information.
The emirate was keen to ensure that workers "have the best possible living conditions", adding that this was being achieved by "establishing and administering guidelines and regulations that require all employers to comply with all international laws and regulations in respect of health, psychological, and social conditions for workers".
UAE was commended for improving conditions for foreign labourers working on the construction of the $27bn Saadiyat Island project, but was urged to do more.
The Government of Abu Dhabi said it will continue to conduct routine inspections to ensure that companies adhere to its obligations to labourers. Abu Dhabi has also implemented regulations that require companies to transport their workers between their worksites and the labour cities, and forbids them to accommodate workers on construction sites or in other "crowded places under unsanitary conditions".
