Workers treated to fun ahead of Labour Day.

Sharjah: Hundreds of workers were treated to an evening of fun in Rolla Park on Friday ahead of International Labour Day (May 1) by Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa).

The day is also known as International Workers Day, or simply Labour Day, and is meant to celebrate and recognise the efforts of the labour force.

On Friday, Sewa’s Conservation Department organised an entertainment event, titled Labour Conservation Day, for workers ahead of International Labour Day to attract as many people as possible since Friday is a holiday. An estimated 500 workers crowded around a stage set up for the occasion in the popular Rolla Park.

The event was also supported by Sharjah Municipality and Sharjah Media Corporation.

Officials praised the contribution of labourers in the development of the UAE and treated them to games, stage shows and prizes. Students from the Sharjah campuses of Our Own English High School Boys and Pakistani Islamia Higher Secondary School performed light-hearted plays with a serious underlying message of conservation.

There were also free health checks and water and energy conservation sessions.

Dr Rashid Obaid Al Leem. Sewa chairman, said, “Sewa has set a conservation target of 30 per cent reduction in the consumption of energy and water by the year 2020 and to achieve this target, the Education and Awareness Section of Conservation Department has taken the initiative to put up various awareness campaigns, events and lectures. This is the first time we have combined the idea of conservation and labour together and taken the platform of International Labour Day to convey our message to the labourers through an entertaining approach.”

Gada Juma Al Salim, manager, Conservation Department, added: “Sewa aims to recognise the vision of crowning Sharjah as the first City of Conservation in the region by the year 2020 and hence we took the opportunity of enlightening the labourers to do the right thing by conserving as much as possible.”

Labourers said they were pleased of being honoured through an event organised especially for them.

“It’s great to see that our efforts are being recognised. We play an important part in the development of the country and Friday’s event was really fun and educational,” said Mazhar Hyat, a 23-year-old Pakistani labourer who has been working in the UAE for a year and eight months.

Munir Shah, a 32-year-old Pakistani mason who has been working in Sharjah for four years, added: “I’m happy to be here with my friends. We feel special because this event is dedicated to us.”