UAE 'committed to improving lives of expat workers'

UNSKILLED WORKERS: The UAE has pledged to improve conditions for workers such as construction labourers. (Getty Images)

Protecting the human rights of expat workers in the UAE is a top priority for the government, a top official has announced.

Anwar Mohammed Gargash, minister of state for foreign affairs, in a statement delivered to the United Nation’s Human Rights Council in Geneva, said ensuring the fair and on-time payment of salaries was a "particular priority".

And he announced that the government was working on a new law designed to give domestic workers "greater protection and assurances".

The new initiative, he added, would particularly benefit women, who are a major component of this segment of the workforce and would take forward the 2006 decision of enforcing mandatory employment contracts to protect the rights of domestic workers in relation to salary, accommodation, healthcare and working hours.

Gargash told the council on Thursday that the UAE considered enforcement of policies aimed at protecting the rights of workers as "critical:.

"Improving working conditions is another area for action that has seen noticeable progress. In 2007, 122,000 facilities were inspected by the labour ministry personnel, resulting in penalties for 8,588 violations related to working conditions and workers' rights," he said.

In a move to ensure more accountability, efficiency and transparency among its employees, the Ministry of Labour has also introduced a complaints hotline for the public to record grievances.

The minister told UN delegates that the UAE was proud to have developed into "an open, modern Arab and Islamic model for the region with over 200 nationalities among its workforce".

But he admitted that such diversity also brought challenges, and the conditions and regulations for our workforce remained "a work in progress".

He added: "For the UAE, respecting labour rights is a moral, cultural and economic imperative."

Most labour issues, he said, concerned expatriate workers, especially the unskilled segment, which has made a significant contribution to the growth of the economy.

More than 3.1 million foreign workers are contractually employed in the UAE.

"As the country moves ahead on its development path, we are doing our best to ensure that no person living, working and contributing to this society undergoes any form of abuse or exploitation," he added.

"The government is fully committed to creating the necessary mechanisms and safeguards to protect all who reside and work in the UAE, and is working on several fronts to address the challenges."

Gargash added: "We acknowledge that we face many challenges ahead, but we will continue to work harder, to improve on what we have achieved thus far. We reiterate that by its inherent and fluid nature, this will continue to be a work in progress, but we are fully committed to addressing labour issues."

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READERS' COMMENTS

Yeah right...
Posted by Mike, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 7 December 2008 at 19:08 UAE time


We don't want words... we want action. I hope everyone will benefit from this. This has been long overdue.

Improving lives of expat workers
Posted by Srivatsa, Dubai, UAE on Saturday 6 December 2008 at 23:44 UAE time

To start with we can start punishing those companies that have forced their workers to work on the the Eid holidays declared by govt, without any overtime. Govt should be proactive and ensure all the passports are released by companies, which they are holding against the law.

Some of these basics rights if done, it would be in the right direction.

Success to you!
Posted by langyaw, Dubai, UAE on Saturday 6 December 2008 at 12:04 UAE time

May God bless your good intentions and plans for expats with good success!

WORKING CONDITIONS OF EXPATRIATES
Posted by KOZHIPURATH SADANAND, MUMBAI, India on Saturday 6 December 2008 at 04:47 UAE time

It is a right step initiated by Mr. Ghargash towards improving the working conditions of all expatriates in UAE. It is being seen in India that job seekers, particularly unskilled lots are lured by the recruitment agents here with a promise of good pay and best working conditions with a particular employer and charge hefty "service charge" from them.

The hell of an affair starts when these expatriates land in their job destinations and the promised pay as well as accommodation and other facilities are being taken a back seat and these slots have to compromise with the conditions meted out to them because of bleak economic conditions prevailing back at their homes.

Thus concluding my scripts I wish and hope that a strict law in this regard initiated by Mr. Ghargish will see that all defaulters (employers) adhere to the guideline prescribed in this regard.

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