Average salary for construction worker in Dubai 2010 is around $2500 a month (including overtime). From this you should subtract $2000 - $4000 in recruitment fees and cost of living. It take months for them to go out of debt. Companies pay bonuses only at the end of contract (which is form of control).
why don't these companies use local workers?
In Abu Dhabi average person has $23m in assets. In Dubai significantly less, but nevertheless much. They can earn same amount of money working less in more pleasant condition. There is no incentive for Arabs to recruit for construction works. Overcrowding of living space and low hygienic condition are still common.
So these companies choose to import these workers instead of using local workers and then they take their passports away because they don't want them to run away.
This is illegal and I can find several instances, where it was happening. Noticeably Saadiyat Island.
Since 2007 UAE are undergoing reform of labour law. Living condition are improving, but employers are still depraved of right to association and right to free trade unions.
Law in UAE guarantee them this rights, but rate of implementation is slow. AFAIK, UAE labour laws lack protection of collective bargaining and don't recognise rights of domestic service and right of family members of immigrants.
This may be pretty bad condition, but better than in Pakistan. If you want to find forced labour in Dubai look at domestic service, not construction workers.
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