Al Ka'abi: UAE protects workers' rights

Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Labour's move to solicit public opinion on the proposed labour law is meant to enhance transparency and stress the importance of considering the views of all parties, including the Human Rights Watch (HRW) group, the Minister of Labour said yesterday.

The ministry has posted the revised draft law online and is receiving feedback from local, regional and international bodies, including local non- governmental organisations (NGOs), the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Arab Labour Organisation (ALO), Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi said, shortly after the New York-based HRW released a report in Dubai on the proposed law.

"We appreciate the comments made by HRW on the draft labour law in the UAE and we will take them into consideration," he said, adding the ministry was still getting responses to the revised draft law.

"Based on our values and principles and out of our keenness to grant workers their rights, we are going to study all proposals thoroughly," Al Ka'abi said.

The minister reiterated "the UAE has a clean record of protecting workers' rights and in preserving the achievements in the field."

"The ministry will not back down on its transparent approach to the opinions reflected, whether we agree with them or not," the minister stressed.