UAE is sensitive to the needs of its workforce

Labour reforms are gaining traction in the country, and the latest decree by the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for domestic helpers shows it is spreading to every section of the workforce. Much effort has been taken to make the reform process effective, and credit is due to the leadership for clarity of thought and the way different departments have implemented it in such a short span of time. The difference is seen in the way prospective employees view the UAE. It is now the most favoured country in the Middle East to work for people from all over the world. Progressive laws such as these have mandated the protection of the rights of workers. Decrees and legal protection systems apart, smart governance systems have cut out middlemen and touts. Cases of exploitation are down as electronic contracts are drawn up with labour exporting countries.

Tuesday’s decree follows several cases of abuse of domestic help . Police and legal authorities have viewed such cases seriously and tough punishments have been handed out to the perpetrators, but the problems stems from within the home. This decree not only strengthens the hand of law enforcement authorities to tackle abuse in a systemic manner but is also a message to households employing maids and workers to treat them right, as family members. ‘Be more humane as the law protects them and is committed to their rights,’ is what the government is trying to say. It not only spells out the number of work hours for household workers but also the time they are to be allowed rest, and covers everything from contracts and annual leave to what defines abuse. What’s striking is that the decree is sensitive to the needs of workers in a changing labour environment. The UAE has been unafraid to tread the path to reform, and has regularly made changes and even course corrections when required. From introducing mid-day breaks to allowing employees to switch jobs, the government has not shied away from taking bold decisions. This is one of them, and we are certain there’s more to come.