British Museum caught up in human rights row

The British Museum was today urged to "take a stand" over the rights of migrant workers in the oil-rich desert sheikdom of Abu Dhabi.

The institution has struck a multi-million pound deal to help launch a national museum in the Gulf state, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. But human rights groups are concerned about the move amid growing evidence that labourers building the man-made island, which will also include branches of the Guggenheim and the Louvre, are being mistreated.

Human Rights Watch has been in talks with the museum to ask it to protect conditions for migrant workers by refusing to work with agencies which charge fees for finding work, confiscate passports or pay unfair wages. Spokesman Samer Muscati said: "We urged them to take human rights seriously but they have not added human rights clauses to their contract.

"This is a public institution, not a private company; they have to respect human rights, not only for their own reputation but also because their mandate is about educating people. They are supposed to have loftier ideals and not just be about chasing the bottom line."

The British Museum will lend its expertise over 10 years for the creation on Saadiyat Island of the Zayed National Museum, named after the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who founded the UAE in 1971.

Due to open in 2012 or 2013, it is being designed by Norman Foster's architectural practice and will explore the history and culture of the UAE.

The British Museum will advise on design, construction, museography and curatorial programming.

Abu Dhabi has put laws in place to protect the workers and is taking criticism seriously as it seeks to transform itself into a cultural centre respected around the world. But HRW says the laws are not being enforced .

Thousands of men from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal are drawn to the UAE by the promise of "good wages and low living expenses".

Many pay fees of up to £2,500 - nine times the average annual income of some workers' home countries - in order to secure a visa, according to a report by the New-York based independent organisation.

On arrival, many have their passports confiscated, sign contracts they do not understand and find they are working for as little as half the promised wage.

Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development and Investment Company, which runs Saadiyat Island, has refuted the claims and said HRW "neglects TDIC's policies and procedures related to worker welfare and makes misleading assertions due to questionable methodology and flawed research".

"TDIC contractually obliges its contractors to comply with existing UAE labour laws which do not allow for the confiscation of passports," it added.

It points out that TDIC has been building the Saadiyat Construction Village, "one of the most advanced accommodation and living facilities for construction workers in the Middle East". This will house 5,000 labourers.

A spokeswoman for the British Museum said it "is not responsible for recruitment on the project but we do of course feel very strongly about human rights issues".

She added: "We have discussed the matter with TDIC. We are confident TDIC are taking the matter seriously and international standards will be adhered to. We have inspected the construction village."