Dubai: A guidebook will be distributed among 100,000 expatriate workers this year so they know their rights, responsibilities, UAE culture, and what to do in case of problems and emergency.
“We aim to educate all one million workers in Dubai. We want them to be more aware of their rights, responsibilities and the country’s social aspects. Our aim is to make the worker happy in his stay in the country,” Maj-Gen Bin Surour said.
New workers will receive a training session when applying for a resident visa in Dubai and then will get the guidebook for free. The workers who renew their visas will attend the sessions as well.
“Last year, we trained more than 20,000 workers in one centre. Now, we have another centre in Jebel Ali Free Zone, where 250 workers attend the training sessions everyday. The awareness programme concentrates on raising the knowledge of workers about their rights and responsibilities as per the laws and regulations in the UAE.”
The guidebook is in three languages — Arabic, English and Urdu, and the training sessions are taking place at two medical centres, in Al Ghusais and Jebel Ali Free Zone.
“We want to educate the workers in an interactive way so we are using the sessions, guidebook and also kiosks. It is essential to raise workers’ awareness,” Maj-Gen Bin Surour added.
Dr Ahmad Al Hashemi, consultant with the PCLA and director of the Middle East Centre for Training and Development, said building the capacity of individuals through awareness and knowledge equips them to be healthy and active individuals with full knowledge of their rights and responsibilities in society.
“The guidebook explains what to do and what not to and shows the list of punishments, besides explaining life in the UAE. It will make the life of the worker easier,” Dr Al Hashemi said.
