Part-time work plan being finalised for UAE

Thursday, 24 September 2009 7:01 AM

PART-TIME PLAN: The UAE's Ministry of Labour is to finalise proposals to allow part-time work in the private sector.

The UAE's Ministry of Labour (MoL) is finalising proposals that will make it possible to work part-time in the private sector later this year.

The plans, which will allow private sector companies to employ staff on a part-time basis, will be finalised in the next two to three months, an official told Arabian Business.

Humaid Bin Deemas, acting director general of the MoL, said the new regulations would benefit employers and employees alike, as well as being a boost to the UAE labour market.

“It’s a new regulation, so you can’t compare it, and is another step to proving that the UAE is a model for the region’s labour environment and market,” he said.

Currently, under UAE law the MoL can issue a temporary work permit which allows part time employment for a period of 90 days in exceptional cases.

Bin Deemas said the regulations would help improve the working lives of labourers and would cut the number of people working illegally in the country by providing more varied employment opportunities.

He also said the new rules would help working mothers by allowing them greater flexibility in the hours they work.

The proposals were compiled after studying the benefits of part-time working rules in some European countries, a spokesperson for the ministry said.

The plans are currently being discussed by the relevant government departments and will be approved before the end of the year, they added.

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Posted by: xcv Sunday, 27 September 2009 12:46 AM[UAE]

I just hope this time they understand the cost to businesses who provide visa!!!!! they introduced 3 months visa and thats like almost 5,000-10,000 dhs come on....for 3 months..a business which is gona hire a person wont even get any thing worth of 10,000 out of the person!!! really,, business can do so much better, and the economy itself too if it was little less expensive to do business in this country!!!!!!!! I pray and i really hope they keep the visa cost low this time!!! And yes ppl are moving to Malaysia/Singapore bcoz the cost are really low for business..perfect example DHL ---> bye bye Dubai

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Posted by: Erica Hewlin Saturday, 26 September 2009 10:09 AM[UAE] - United Arab Emiraes

What a great idea to help loyal full-time employees who want to work part-time (reduced daily hours of work) but because the Labor Law currently prevents it, they can not. Part-Time employment (reduced daily hours of work) will also be great for employees who want to start a family, since the maturnity leave is only 45 days which really not enough time adjust and bond with their new born baby. Offering the option for part-time employment will provide a win-win scenerio for the employee and employer. The employee will receive more flexibility in regards to time and the employer will receive more productivity out of their employees.

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Posted by: Bob Friday, 25 September 2009 9:24 AM[UAE]

Flower Power is spot on. Everything he says plus another 20 or 30 reasons is why we are closing shop here in the UAE and moving our operation to Singapore. Absolutely positively 100% business friendly and believe it or not more cost effective.

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Posted by: Sandjockey Friday, 25 September 2009 9:16 AM[UAE] - UAE

Now now folks, what's all the ruckus about this proposed new law? Part time workers are a boon to any society and, unlike Flower Power (FP), I see the benefits of it. I too am a small business owner with more than 20 full time employees and (surprise surprise) more than a handful of part time employees. Egads, you say, how can you have part time employees? 'Cause I hire college students as interns, don't have to give them a visa, still train them and they get valuable experience. Some have turned into my full time employees upon graduation, others have gone elsewhere, even my competitors, but it has not hurt me. One key difference between FP's company and my company? We have added certain clauses to our contract that require employees to pay us back for training if they are fired for cause or quit before a set period is up. Another difference? If my employees start coming in dead tired and don't provide the level of work I need I'll let them go in a flash and then start looking at hiring part time workers. FP, look at it from a positive perspective, you can also hire part time workers and replace all those tired staff. Much like in the western world, where part time workers are a huge part of a successful business society, this is a good thing. SJ

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Posted by: Dan Thursday, 24 September 2009 11:26 PM[UAE] - Sweden

The lack of Labor laws that allow freedom of movement and choice is what keeps GCC from real growth. No side laws will fix this until people can move to different jobs as they wish like in developed countries. Therefore my dear Flower Power (your frustration is understandable) your have to pay all the fees and now this. And with an 80+ billion deficit, there will be no ease of fees. Unfortunately the mentality to lower the fees in order to increase investment and make it possible for SMEs to flourish and thereby improve the economical situation, do not exist. The fees increase to pay of the deficit, but that just kills more businesses. Just like Cityscape, Mall owners and so on.

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