774bb1eae0b49210VgnVCM200000e66411acRCRDapproved/thenational/Articles/Migration/2008-Q2Ajman inspectors find 400 workers sharing villa674bb1eae0b49210VgnVCM200000e66411ac____Municipality inspectors have found more than 400 workers living in a single villa also used as a bakery.Municipality inspectors have found more than 400 workers living in a single villa also used as a bakery.<p>AJMAN // Municipality inspectors have found more than 400 workers living in a single villa also used as a bakery. "We could not even imagine how they slept because the whole place was full of bread flour and other utilities for the bakery," said an inspector. Inspectors have been visiting villas in the emirate as part of a campaign to ensure houses are not overcrowded and conditions are hygienic. When they visited a villa in Rashidiya they found 400 men sharing it, with dozens living in every room and several sharing each bed.</p> <p>"The workers could have been working throughout the day and night, only sleeping in turns," the inspector said. The villa has two kitchens and three bathrooms in the main house. Additional quarters in the yard also had a bathroom. Mohammed Abdul Wahab, the head of inspections at Ajman Municipality, said it was illegal to operate bakeries or factories in residential areas. "There is no way health and hygiene could be observed with production of foodstuffs where people sleep," he said. "This violation cannot be tolerated."</p> <p>Inspectors also found several residents who had turned their homes into laundry shops as a means of making ends meet. This was also illegal, Mr Wahab said. Inspectors handed out 625 fines last week for violating a rule that prohibits bachelors and workers living in family accommodation. Mr Wahab said the municipality was targeting areas in Ajman on the instructions of Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid, the head of the municipality. "There will be no compromise with any violators including tenants, landlords or real estate firms," he said.</p> <p>People breaking the law face fines of up to Dh5,000 (US$1,350), followed by eviction. An inspection team with six members has been monitoring the exits from work sites in an effort to find people breaking the law. They have also followed up tips from members of the public. Mr Wahab said fines were issued to people in Al Nakheel, Al Zahra, Rashidiya, Sawan and Humaidiya. Sharjah Municipality fined about 300 people last month as inspectors acted to stop workers living in residential areas.</p> <p>The campaigns follow similar action in Dubai, where the municipality is enforcing rules against multiple occupancy of villas. Families given only a few days to leave villas have appealed to municipality officials for more time, saying it is hard to find new accommodation and their children need to finish the school year before they move to a new district. Officials have rejected their requests. Dubai Municipality has backed up eviction notices by cutting power and water to villas housing more than one family.</p> <p><a href="mailto:ykakande@thenational.ae">ykakande@thenational.ae</a></p> 10,22NNNATIONAL200805260000002008052600000020110607191841100ARhttp://adedit.ad.atl.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080526/NATIONAL/949143625AD2008109491436252008052610000000043510b6660f8245b49210VgnVCM100000e56411ac____674bb1eae0b49210VgnVCM200000e66411ac____dc67e91672448210VgnVCM200000e66411acRCRDce9be7de76c49210VgnVCM200000e66411ac____674bb1eae0b49210VgnVCM200000e66411ac____d72321370aa49210VgnVCM100000e56411acRCRDImageArticle Asset captionArticle Asset option