December 18, 2006

UAE Camel Racers Try to Buy Out Camel Jockeys.

robot_camel_jockey.jpgIn an effort similar to Fords recent effort to trim its workforce, Camel Racing promoters in the UAE are promising to pay former camel jockeys compensation for their work riding camels. Often the boys were sold into slavery by their families.

Via BBC: The United Arab Emirates says it will give $9m (£4.6m) to former child camel jockeys employed in the country.

The UAE says the money will ensure they receive the salaries owed to them and compensation for losing their income. It will also go towards education.
The move is part of a joint programme with the UN children's agency Unicef.
The initiative has seen more than 1,000 former jockeys, from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sudan and Mauritania repatriated to their countries.


Hey they just decided to pay these kids out of the kindness of their hearts? No afraid not.
The prime minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is among those accused, in a class action filed in the US, of trafficking and enslaving children.

The suit is being brought against him, his brother Sheikh Hamdan, and 500 others by some parents and thousands of unnamed children.

Rather than hire and pay camel jockeys legitimately, they just want to pay some hush money and move on to new Super futuristic Robot Camel Jockeys. I hope these boys get a fair share but the odds of that are pretty slim.

Hat Tip: Macktastic Rusty Wicked.

By Howie at 04:36 PM | |