UAE | Government
UAE committed to workers' rights
Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash, Labour Minister, said in Geneva the UAE was keen to cooperate with the international community and abide by its commitments, but the country needs to keep in mind its demographic nature.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:03 June 12, 2008
Dubai: The UAE on Wednesday said it was committed to the protection of labour rights, WAM reported.
Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash, Labour Minister, said in Geneva the UAE was keen to cooperate with the international community and abide by its commitments, but the country needs to keep in mind its demographic nature.
Saqr Gobash had a meeting with senior officials of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the sidelines of the organisation's 97th annual meeting.
The officials urged the UAE to ratify two international conventions on labour unions and collective bargaining. Saqr Gobash said the UAE needs to keep in mind its unique demographic nature.
The UAE, where the majority of workers are foreigners, has signed six out of eight international labour conventions, including prohibitions on child labour, the prohibition of forced labour, equal pay for men and women and the prohibition of discrimination in hiring.
ILO officials hailed the UAE's ratification of the declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work.
The UAE minister and his delegation participated in a meeting of labour ministers of Asia and Oceania on Monday in Geneva.
A number of pertinent issues were discussed at the conference, including employment rights and the world food crisis.
Gobash held a series of bilateral meetings with a number of ministers and senior officials of the ILO.
He met with Syrian Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Diyala Alhaj Arif, Pakistan's Deputy Minister of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, Asif Hayat, and members of his country's delegation.
Gobash will also lead the UAE delegation to Expo Zaragoza 2008, which will take place tomorrow and Saturday in Spain.
The UAE is participating at the event in response to an invitation to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan by King Juan Carlos of Spain.
"The UAE's participation is therefore in line with the directives of Shaikh Khalifa. It also follows on the decision of the UAE's Ministerial Council for Services to showcase the country's efforts in the areas of renewable energy and green cities," Gobash said in a statement to WAM.
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