ALO chief refers to UAE’s labour law, housing standards
The Arab Labour Organisation (ALO) on Wednesday lauded the UAE’s efforts in providing the best accommodation facilities and services to unskilled workers.
Dr Ahmed Luqman, Director-General of the ALO, also hailed the UAE’s political will to protect the workers’ rights and efforts made in monitoring the standards of the workers’ accommodation.
The remarks were made at a Press briefing during a field tour conducted along with Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, UAE Minister of Labour, and other senior officials at the Labourers’ Village in Mussafah’s ICAD area.
“The labour market initiatives in the UAE reflect the political will of the government to ensure the protection of workers and their rights, including the provision of housing with applicable standards,” said the ALO chief.
The Ministry of Labour in the UAE works to protect workers’ rights and provides them with a decent working environment that is guaranteed in the national legislation and practices that come in response to the directives of the political leadership and its commitment to achieve the best levels of living standards, Dr Luqman added.
Elaborating on the labour issue in the UAE, Ghobash said the country has dealt and can deal with external reports related to workers’ rights and “we are not because of these reports. We can always fix these reports that are not built on reality”.
The minister added the legislation starts mainly with the Constitution of the United Arab Emirates that provides the best practices for the protection of workers — whether locals or expatriates.
“The law ensures the rights of workers are protected, and it also protects the rights of employers,” said Ghobash.
On the mechanisms of implementation of the decision of the Federal Cabinet in this regard, he said the decision came after the Cabinet consulted with stakeholders on the standards and requirements of the labour housing to provide workers the highest levels of health, safety and comfort.
The minister pointed to the partnership with government agencies and local communities concerned and the private sector in the implementation of the resolution, He also said the Labourers’ Village is considered a model of labour housing developed anywhere in the world.
