Dubai: The restructuring of a Permanent Committee for Labour Afffairs just went to make International Labour Day commemorations in Dubai that much more significant for workers.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, urged the new committee to strive to ensure the protection of workers' rights in Dubai.
The number of committee members has been increased and the committee itself has been directly linked with the Dubai Executive Council.
Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai heads the committee.
Members
According to the decision, the committee members will include the Deputy Director-General, Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai as vice-chairman, and representatives of Dubai Police, General Directorate of State National Security, the Ministry of Labour, and Dubai Courts, besides the director of the Labour Inspectorate at the Ministry of Labour, the director of the Department of Human Rights Authority Community Development, and Dubai Municipality representatives, in addition to members from Dubai Ports.
Major General Al Merri told Gulf News that the committee would monitor and evaluate various establishments in the private sector in the emirate to verify that they adhere to health and environment criteria besides ensuring commitment to labour legislation in terms of the integrity of contracts, work conditions and adherence to standards adopted by the government to ensure the safety of workers.
The committee will ensure that all companies follow guidelines on providing appropriate working conditions and treating workers fairly.
It will also ensure that they consider the complaints of workers and take appropriate action, and directing follow-up measures taken by the concerned government bodies in the emirate against any violation of labour rights, Major General Al Merri said.
Powerful mandate
Major General Al Merri said the committee will promote programmes aimed at educating and informing workers and employers about workers and their rights and dues, and to develop mechanisms for implementation of the rules, and the formation of committees, sub-committees and working groups and to define their functions.
The chairman of the committee will offer suggestions to address problems or obstacles that may prevent the committee from carrying out its brief.
The chairman will also follow up on the implementation of decisions and recommendations of the committee. All government departments in the emirate are obliged to cooperate with the new committee and provide all data and information requested by the committee.
The committee shall submit periodic reports to the Executive Council on its activities and impact and constraints that prevent it from carrying out its functions, while an annual allocation from the Department of Finance will meet the committee's financial needs.
