Unskilled workers stick to their stand

No progress has been made to convince unskilled workers at federal ministries to accept a new regulation and work for private companies.

Under the new regulation, the maintenance and cleaning at federal ministries will be managed by Emirates Management Services Corporation, which has subcontracted it to private companies.

These jobs are being subcontracted to private companies under Federal Law 12 for 2001 related to the establishment of the corporation.

All office-boys and maintenance and cleaning staff have been provided with forms to indicate whether they agree to work under the new management. The forms also carry terms and conditions and incentives provided under the new agreements.

According to ministry sources, there has been no progress, despite some representatives of private companies holding direct negotiations with the workers, to convince them to work under new management.

Sources also suggest that the shifting of some workers has already affected routine work. A source at the Ministry of Education and Youth said that work has been badly affected as some of the long-time workers who had signed the agreements, have been shifted elsewhere, and their replacements are not familiar with the work.

A worker at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, A. K., said that their new management, SMC, has been trying to convince the workers to change their stand, but without any success.

"One of the representative has tried to convince us, but we told him that we will not sign the agreement. He told us that they are helpless, as their trade licence would be cancelled if they don't get the contract," A.K. added.

When contacted, an official at the company, identified as John, told Gulf News that he was not aware of the contract with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. However, he added that negotiations are taking place with the employees of Ministry of Health and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

The official also referred Gulf News to the company manager Edward, who refused to comment on the issue.

According to sources at the Ministry of Health, the new sub-contractors have also been negotiating with the workers. Sources suggested that almost 90 per cent of the ministry staff have refused to work for private companies, fearing they would lose all the benefits they enjoy now and be forced to work for very poor salaries.

According to a staff at the ministry, two groups of ministry-employed workers at Mina Store in Mina Zayed and Darwesh Store at Zayed Military Hospital, refused on Monday to work for the private companies. I.K., who works at the Central Hospital, said that to his knowledge, no one is ready to sign the new contracts.

"I have not seen any worker saying that he would go forward with the new management. The representatives of these private companies have been trying their hardest to convince the workers to work under them, but without any success," he added.

According to the new terms and conditions, salaries have been reduced by half, or more in some cases. The corporation has fixed a basic salary of Dh450 in addition to Dh150 for accommodation and Dh125 for transport, while other monthly service allowances vary according to the nature of the job.

The sub-contractors will be responsible for the health provisions of the workers, and the end-of-service benefits will be based on the basic salary of a worker.

Under the new terms, those not willing to use their company transport and accommodation will be reimbursed a fixed amount by the corporation.

Ministries will clear all the financial dues of their workers on the day they are transferred to new managements, and their visa sponsorship will be transferred to the corporation.