UAE | Employment

Revised labour law ready in August

The first draft of the amended federal labour law will be ready by end of August, the Minister of Labour said yesterday.

  • By Wafa Issa, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:33 May 3, 2009
  • Gulf News

Dubai: The first draft of the amended federal labour law will be ready by end of August, the Minister of Labour said yesterday.

"A new law needs to be developed to meet the pace of progress in the country, as the existing law has been in place for 20 years," Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi told a press conference, stressing that rules and regulations included in the proposed document would be flexible.

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The minister declined to give more information on what is the nature of the new changes. But officials told Gulf News earlier the amended law would include an article that allows the minister to approve the formation of labour unions.

The minister said the UAE valued the expatriate labour force that has helped in building the country. But he also warned that workers who protest without one of three valid reasons may face deportation.

According to Dr Al Ka'abi workers can legally protest over unpaid wages, poor living conditions and the lack of safety procedures.

 Protests for other reasons are considered a legal violation. He also announced a plan to abolish recruitment agencies, which he described as mafia-like organisations.

PAYMENT PLAN
Workers' salaries can go directly to home accounts

The Ministry of Labour is currently planning a system to provide companies with the option of sending workers' salaries directly to their home countries.

The proposal suggested cooperating with Emirates Post, where companies will have the option of paying salaries directly through financial agencies abroad, according to Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi. "Emirates Post has a large network in many countries such as Wall Street Exchange in India," Al Kaabi told a press conference.

The ministry's proposed plan also includes providing workers and their families with cards, enabling them to withdraw cash from within the UAE and from abroad.

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