New body to monitor payments

Abu Dhabi: The payment of labourers' salaries will now be overseen by a dedicated government body, established on Tuesday by the Labour Minister.

The office, headed by the executive director of inspection affairs, will ensure companies pay labourers their dues on time and respect work hours, the minister, Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash, Minister of Labour, told a press conference.

"The main objective of the office is to avoid future labour problems related to salaries," he explained.

The office will also recommend any sanctions or penalties imposed on companies that flout the rules of the country, he added.