UAE Makes Expat Workers aware of their Legal Rights
DUBAI: A “Know your rights” campaign has been launched to educate workers about their rights upon arrival at Dubai airports.
“This campaign comes in the framework of the ministry’s keenness to raise awareness of foreign workers who enter the labor market for the first time especially when it comes to implementing the newly adapted decrees, which refer to labor 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,” Saqr Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, was quoted saying by WAM.
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 report said.
The Ministry is keen on raising the level of awareness of both production parties about labor market policies and laws through a series of programs that shall be held at their workplace and housing camps using different languages they understand, it added.
“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 labor contracts,” Ghobash reportedly said.
The 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 of the Dubai International Airport.
For his part, Jamal Al Hai, Member, Federal National Council – Deputy CEO of Dubai Airports, praised the campaign and its 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 report said.
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 labor disputes.
The second phase of the campaign includes a similar action in Abu Dhabi International Airport shortly along with another campaign decided to be launched at labor camps across the UAE, reported WAM.