Dubai: The UAE has taken major steps in the recent years to improve safeguards for workers, the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation said here on Tuesday on the occasion of International Workers’ Day.
Releasing the 2017-2018 Worker Welfare Report, Nasser Bin Thani Al Hameli called for a labour market in the UAE that “empowers Emiratis and attracts talent from around the world”.
“Over the last two years, the UAE has taken significant steps to strengthen protection for workers. These include the introduction of the Domestic Labour Law, the standardisation of employment contracts, and measures to increase mobility and allow workers to change employers. The data that we are presenting today underline the overwhelming positive impact of these changes,” he said.
Across most safeguarding metrics, the ministry reported significant improvements since 2014.
According to the report, the rate of labour disputes between employers and employees settled prior to a court referral was up from 76 per cent in 2014 to 81.68 per cent in 2016.
As many as 92.22 per cent of all workers are now protected under the UAE’s Wages Protection System, up from 90.8 per cent in 2014.
Meanwhile, 86.1 per cent of the businesses rated as establishments where workers are most at risk of labour abuses were inspected in 2016.
The report noted that the ministry’s staff inspected 7,796 worker accommodation sites in 2016, compared with 5,200 in 2014.
“As one of the few countries to actively welcome large numbers of people from around the world, the UAE provides work to approximately one million new residents every year. Our aim is to ensure that the UAE remains a beacon of aspiration for all, regardless of race, gender or religion. But we also want to inspire confidence that, when things go wrong, residents will be treated fairly and with respect, and disputes are resolved quickly and cost effectively,” Al Hameli said.
This is the second annual report on worker welfare published by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
The report covers a range of areas, with this year’s edition dedicating significant attention to the introduction of the 2017 Domestic Labour Law, which, for the first time, initiated legislation regularising the relationship between domestic workers and employers.
Approximately, 750,000 residents in the UAE work in domestic service, and the new regulations establish their rights and responsibilities. Crucially, the law facilitates the introduction of Tadbeer Centres, centralising the employment of domestic workers aimed at minimising malpractices associated with overseas recruitment.
The other areas focused on by the report include reforms to the contractual relationship between employers and workers in the wider labour market, new requirements for businesses to provide low salaried workers with appropriate accommodation, and penalties for late pay payment of salaries. Also detailed are the extensive efforts of the UAE at an international level to improve cooperation with labour-sending countries, stamp out illegal recruitment practices and improve the recognition of skills.
A slew of activities were also organised across the UAE to mark the International Workers’ Day on Tuesday.
Highlights
Dispute resolution
The rate of disputes dealt with within the mandated time frame has risen from 78.61 per cent in 2014 to 81.68 per cent in 2016, close to the target of 82 per cent, due to a fast track settlement process and the hiring of additional ministry staff with legal training and experience in 2015.
Wage protection
The rate of workers protected under the WPS or Wage Protection System has risen from 88.5 per cent in 2014 to 92.2 per cent in 2016.
Labour compliance
In 2016, the ministry inspected 86.1 per cent of all businesses at the highest risk level (22,733 businesses out of 26,403), close to the 90 per cent target. Inspectors visited 9,319 of the 13,958 businesse at the second highest risk level.
Accommodation
In the 2014-16 period, inspection of worker accommodations were well above target, with 5,769 inspections in 2014, 7,565 in 2015 and 7,796 in 2016.
Source: 2017-18 Worker Welfare Report
