Meeting discusses plan to restructure labour market

Abu Dhabi: Restructuring the labour market and reconsidering legislation that organises the entry of expatriate workers into the country were among many issues discussed at the first consultative meeting organised by the labour ministry yesterday.

The meeting, titled Balance Between National Interests and International Commitments, called for regulating the large flow of expatriate workers and solving the demographic structure imbalance.

It was attended by Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Economy, Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Minister of Labour, and Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs.

In a keynote speech, Al Ka'abi stressed the importance of enhancing the national dialogue to tackle the issues of demographic structure imbalance, the influx of expatriate labour and organising the job market.

He called for reconsidering laws and rules that govern the entry of expatriate labour, and said that the influx of labourers has resulted in creating the demographic imbalance.

Al Ka'abi said the UAE is taking strenuous efforts to ensure the rights of expatriate workers and the country's commitment to international conventions on their rights.

The labour minister stresses the need to enhance a national dialogue to tackle the issues of demographic structure imbalance.