UAE | Employment

Ministry to set minimum wage for workers soon

The Labour Ministry is preparing for the introduction of a mandatory minimum wage in the country, the minister has said.

  • Gulf News Report
  • Published: 23:37 May 3, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • "This (minimum wage) will apply initially to the construction sector, in which ... hundreds of thousands of people work," says Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi.
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Dubai: The Labour Ministry is preparing for the introduction of a mandatory minimum wage in the country, the minister has said.

Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi told Gulf News in an exclusive statement that the ministry has embarked on a detailed programme of research, after which a recommendation will be submitted to the Council of Ministers that a framework for a minimum wage should be adopted.

He said: "This will apply initially to the construction sector, in which many hundreds of thousands of people work, and will then be expanded to cover the entire workforce."

The UAE Government is engaged in a major campaign to improve the conditions of expatriate workforce.

The new Labour Law, currently in preparation, will stipulate that the introduction and implementation of a minimum wage requires only a proposal from the minister of labour and approval by the Prime Minister, rather than issuing a federal decree, which is the conventional procedure. "It is anticipated that this should make it possible to introduce the minimum wage framework more rapidly," he said.

Terms and conditions

The Government, he said, has noted, from its own investigations, as well as from reports by other sources, that many of the problems faced by the expatriate workforce arise from the terms and conditions under which they were recruited by labour supply agencies in their countries of origin. These problems can include high fees, repayable at a high rate of interest.

Dr Al Ka'abi said: "The ministry has, therefore, held consultations with the Ministries of Labour or their equivalents in the countries from which most expatriate workers are recruited and has signed Memoranda of Understanding to facilitate a greater regulation of labour recruitment and supply from these countries. It has been agreed that recruitment and labour supply companies in these countries should be held liable for any breach of local regulations where these relate to the supply of labour to the Emirates."

The ministry is also reviewing the procedures for the regulation of UAE-based recruitment agencies, with a view to increasing the degree of regulation, while, pending completion of this review, no new licences for UAE-based recruitment agencies are being issued.

The ministry is also studying the possibility of introducing government-run recruitment agencies, to regularise and rationalise the procedures for recruitment and to make it possible to eliminate irregularities at the UAE end of the recruitment process.


Your comments


It was even too late to do this, people are working for such small salaries and the lifestyle in Dubai is getting more and more expensive every day. Somebody should help these people. I'm really happy for them now.
Ozlam
Dubai,UAE

Yes, this is a good idea by Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, our labour minister. The workers working in these sectors are really exploited by their companies. I would like to say that the workers should also be aware of these laws. All workers come here to work because of their financial problems and to make their dreams come true. But the fact is that they are really exploited by the company. In fact, the UAE labour laws are good but almost all companies are not following the laws. Bringing these laws would be a great relief to the workers who are exploited. And the government should make sure that these rules are obeyed by the companies.
Bibin
Abu Dhabi,UAE

This is a very good idea because I've heard that construction workers here in the UAE are receiving a very low salary, and they are working hard, especially during the summer, when they are working under the extreme heat from the sun. I would suggest that this rule should also be applied to all employees, regardless of nationality, because the price of commodities is increasing rapidly.
Gina
Dubai,UAE

I think the government is taking the right step to improve the conditions of the workers, especially people working in the construction industries.
Jayant
Dubai,UAE

This is the right time to introduce such regulations to help the work force in the UAE. It is always good if the government sets up recruitment agencies and directly recruits the workforce.
Srinivasa
Abu Dhabi,UAE

A warm welcome to this new law by the Ministry of Labour. It will at least protect the workforce in the country where on many instances we are exploited and deprived of our rights. Also, we would all appreciate if the government and rulers of the UAE made a two-day weekend compulsory, even for private sector workers.
Raj
Dubai,UAE

I agree, a lot of employers in the UAE are gaining a lot because of low-income work forces, and they are not even following the UAE labour laws.
Esperanza
Dubai,UAE

It's about time! I hope this will trigger the other GCC countries to set a similar law to protect the labour force. Let's see what that wage will be.
Jane
Dubai,UAE

Thanks to the UAE government that, at last, construction workers will be happy and their families too. Once again, many thanks to the UAE government.
Gopal
Muscat,Oman

The UAE Government should have recruitment agencies overseas to recruit labour through them only.
A. S.
Dubai,India

It is good that the Labour Ministry is preparing for the introduction of a minimum wage in the country. It is better to introduce government-run recruitment agencies, so that workers will not suffer paying a huge amounts to the greedy labour supply agencies .
S. M. F
Dubai,UAE

This is indeed a remarkable move by Dr. Al Ka'abi. Many people will be happy as they deserve to be...hoping it will expand more to other sectors other than the construction sector.
Fenella
Abu Dhabi,UAE

The UAE should revise the ban policy since many companies are misusing this provision and exploiting poor labourers.
Ibrahim
Dubai,UAE

It's really good for a developing country to make those who are building the country's infrastructure to be happy.
Shafeek
Dubai,UAE

Of course, the minimum wages should be revised for the labourers. The present wages are totally inadequate to meet the living conditions.
Babudas
Dubai,UAE

It is welcome news for the labourers. Can anybody survive on the meagre amounts they are receiving at present?
S. Z.
Abu Dhabi,UAE

It's good that labourers can benefit by this. They work hard but receive low wages.
Daniella
Dubai,UAE

It is a great thing for the Ministry of Labour to set a minimum wage for workers in the UAE. The ministry is to be congratulated. Once a minimum wage is established it is also important to make sure the employers really pay the wage; too often we hear of labourers not being paid their wages on time or at all. I again call for the Ministry to collect the salaries of low- paid labourers, and distribute the wages directly to the labourers. This will ensure that those who need it most are paid fairly and on time.
R. C. W.
Al Ain,UAE

I support this decision wholeheartedly. I hope the UAE government implements this as soon as possible. The conditions that these working class are living in are simply too painful.
Gail
Dubai,UAE

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