UAE's salary scheme could be rolled out across Mideast

The UAE's wages protection system - a scheme that aims to make sure labourers are paid on time and in full - could be rolled out across the Arab world.

With millions of foreign construction workers employed across the region, the Arab Labour Organisation is now looking to other countries to follow the UAE's lead.

More than 65 percent of UAE banks have so far been licensed for the Ministry of Labour’s wage protection system, which launched last month.

Some 100,000 workers were set to get their September salaries paid through the scheme.

Some 35 banks out of 54 operating in the country, as well as 15 exchange offices, have been issued licences for the system by the UAE Central Bank.

WPS was presented to delegates of Arab countries participating in the Arab Employment Forum (AEF) in Lebanon, reported news agency WAM.

Mohsen Al Nasi, director of the WPS Unit at the UAE Ministry of Labour, said the presentation had generated positive response from delegates who "expressed their desire to know much about the system".

"The UAE is ready to pass on its WPS experience to Arab countries," he told WAM.

And Khalil Abu Kharma, director of Social Protection, Arab Labour Organisation (ALO), added: "The ALO will provide fully-fledged support to the UAE system and give it a priority in the experience it plans to circulate in Arab countries."

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