Abu Dhabi: A revised labour law has been drafted allowing more Emiratis into the labour market as well as applying labour laws to workers in free zones across the country, Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash, Minister of Labour, told the Federal National Council yesterday (Tuesday).
“The revised labour law will explicitly bring the private sector’s benefits on a par with those of the public sector to boost the presence of Emiratis in private businesses,” Gobash said in a letter sent to the House.
Gobash was answering a question presented by Ali Eisa Al Nuaimi, a member from Ajman, about action taken by the ministry to implement a motion presented by the House and approved by the Cabinet in 2009 concerning revising the labour law.
Gobash stated in the letter that the new legislation will clearly state that the law will be applicable to workers in free zones, which are part of the UAE’s territories.
“The Ministry of Labour has discussed around 95 per cent of the draft laws with concerned parties in the UAE, ahead of presenting it to the Cabinet for approval,” Gobash said.
Proposed reforms of the UAE’s labour market include subsidising of citizens’ wages in the private sector, boosting their job security and a two-day weekend, among other benefits, to attract more citizens to the sector that boasts more than 4.2 million jobs.
The revised UAE labour laws will also include major changes to annual leave and end of service benefits due to an employee.
Major amendments that are being planned include reducing the number of days of annual leave that an employee is entitled to — from 30 days to 21.
The last time amendments were made to the labour laws was in 1986.
Meanwhile, issues on women’s rights at the workplace would also form a major component of the amendments that are being brought to UAE’s existing labour laws.
Regarding women’s issues, the new amendments could specifically bring about changes to the current maternity leave provision that local companies offer their female staff.
