UAE educates new expat workers about legal rights

Saqr Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, has launched a campaign on Thursday under the slogan (Know your rights) to educate workers about their rights, upon arrival through Dubai airports.

"This campaign comes in the framework of the ministry's keenness to raise awareness of foreign workers that enter the labour market for the first time especially when it comes to implementing the newly adapted decrees, which refer to labour contracts approved by the ministry, cases of employment termination and granting workers new work permits to move from one facility to another after ending the employment relationship with the owner," he said.

There has been proper communication with concerned authorities to direct workers coming from abroad about the new decrees and educate them prior to arrival.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation is keen on raising the level of awareness of both production parties about labour market policies and laws through a series of programmes that shall be held at their workplace and housing camps using different languages they understand.

Ghobash stressed, "The UAE is committed to providing all means of protection to workers’ rights while ensuring employers interests are met, something which confirms our national legislation that witnessed a remarkable implementation towards the new decrees that aim to promote a balanced and productive working relationship between both ends authorized by the unified labour contracts."

Human Resources and Emiratisation Minister acknowledged all the support provided by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates Airways, to mark a successful campaign as well as all stakeholders in the Dubai International Airport, as it confirms a great team work between various entities to strengthen the country's position globally.

The Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation met during the meeting several workers arriving to the UAE in the presence of Mubarak Saeed Al Dhahiri Ministry Undersecretary, alongside Dr. Ruba Jaradat, Regional Director for the Arab States at the International Labour Organization ILO and Jamal Al Hai, Member, Federal National Council - Deputy CEO of Dubai Airports, and Major General Obaid Muhair Bin Suroor, Chairman of the Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs in Dubai.

Humaid bin Deemas Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs and Maher Al Obed Assistant Undersecretary for inspections and Saif Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary for services and support, as well as Dr. Omar Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for policy and strategy had also attended the meeting.

For his part, Jamal Al Hai, Member, Federal National Council - Deputy CEO of Dubai Airports, praised the campaign and its noble goals, pointing out that launching it at the Dubai International Airport, which was visited by more than 78 million passengers last year, is a step in the right direction towards protecting rights.

The campaign included the distribution of several booklets printed in five languages; Arabic, English, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam through the ministry’s platform at the Dubai International Airport as well as awareness ads across the digital screens of the airport.

The booklets include legal guidelines to educate workers during the period before and after arriving in the country as well as make them aware of their rights and obligations while on duty and how to approach labour disputes, as well as specific instructions to move to a new The second phase of the campaign includes a similar action in Abu Dhabi International Airport shortly parallel to another campaign decided to be launched at labour camps across the UAE.

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