NYU moves forward with project to compensate workers for labor standards violations
NYU has appointed consulting firm Currie & Brown to oversee the compensation of laborers that worked under substandard conditions for the ...
Jul 12, 2015
NYU has appointed consulting firm Currie & Brown to oversee the compensation of laborers that worked under substandard conditions for the construction of NYU Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Campus.
The campus finished construction in April 2014. After housing students for two semesters, the university continues to make headlines for labor and human rights issues. This compensation project is the next step in NYU’s response to the findings that its construction process saw several instances of labor standard violations.
NYU and its UAE government partner, Tamkeen, made the commitment to compensate workers in April this year, shortly after findings that roughly one third of the total workforce had been exempted from protection under the university’s labor standards. These workers were susceptible to unpaid or underpaid wages, poor living conditions and retained passports, among other substandard conditions.
Acknowledging skepticism of NYUAD by the media, as well as human rights and activist groups, NYU president John Sexton wrote at the time that “frank findings is a valuable, good faith start on that process” to rectify mistakes.
Compensation is expected to bring the workers in line with NYU’s full labor standards, on points ranging from wage to accommodation. Currie & Brown began working on the project on June 9, 2015, with project completion expected within 12 to 18 months.
“The biggest challenge facing Currie & Brown will be locating as many of the affected workers as possible,” Al Bloom, NYUAD Vice Chancellor, wrote to The Gazelle. “Yet I am confident the firm has the skills and experience to do an exceptional job, which is why we selected them.”
Among the 10,000 workers due for compensation, some may no longer be in contact with NYU and may no longer reside in the UAE.
The appointment of Currie & Brown is coupled with the appointment of a new labor compliance monitor, Impactt Limited, which began preliminary work on June 14.
Impactt will monitor suppliers working at NYUAD’s campus to ensure compliance to NYU’s labor standards. Suppliers include those providing food services, security, facilities management and remedial construction.
According to Erum Raza, NYUAD’s Chief Compliance Officer, the selection of both firms was made by senior leadership of NYUAD and Tamkeen, along with individuals working in areas such as labor, auditing, risk management and contracts management.
“Impactt and Currie & Brown were selected following comprehensive and competitive selection processes involving both NYUAD and Tamkeen,” Raza wrote to The Gazelle.
While reports on Currie & Brown’s progress is forthcoming, Raza noted that Impactt will begin by reviewing NYUAD’s labor compliance process.
“[Impactt’s] initial focus is on assessing our labor compliance program, including reviewing our internal monitoring activities, such as worker interviews, audits, inspections and complaints review,” wrote Raza.
Nardello & Co., the firm whose investigation found that one-third of workers were exempted from NYU’s labor standards, faulted the excess of compliance monitors surrounding the campus’ construction. Nardello recommended simplifying the compliance process to one monitor.
Astha Pokharel, NYU Law student, said that NYU students should be more regularly updated on, and ideally included in, NYU’s response to labor issues. Pokharel is a member of the NYU Law Students for Economic Justice and has been working with the NYU Coalition for Fair Labor.
“We want to welcome the progress that’s being made,” said Pokharel. “What we’re asking now is that NYUAD and wider NYU be a part of the compensation process.”
Pokharel found out about the appointment of Impactt and Currie & Brown through Al Bloom’s meeting with some members of the Coalition. Among the members was professor Andrew Ross, who made headlines earlier this year when he was denied entry to the UAE.
The Coalition was pushing for NYUAD to appoint Worker’s Rights Consortium as the next labor compliance monitor. Pokharel said that, compared to the Worker’s Rights Consortium, Impactt does not seem to have as much experience in human rights issues.
“What we heard is that it’s for-profit, it’s client-centric — these are things we’ve heard from people who’ve worked in this area,” said Pokharel.
Meanwhile, she said that little can be found about Currie & Brown.
Asked whether there will be regular updates on Currie & Brown’s work, Raza responded that details are not yet available.
“We are still working out the details of the reporting process, but NYUAD and Tamkeen are committed to sharing information as we are able to,” wrote Raza.
Joey Bui is editor-in-chief. Email her at feedback@gzl.me.
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