Call for labour contracts recognition

ABU DHABI // The UAE has called for international recognition of the strategy followed by GCC states on temporary-labour mobility contracts, state news agency Wam reported yesterday.

It came during a meeting of ministers and heads of the Asia-Pacific regional delegation with Guy Ryder, director general of the International Labour Organization. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 103rd session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, during which Mr Ryder’s report on immigration, which addressed immigrants’ right to obtain citizenship in a host country, was discussed. The report pointed out that this mechanism was being replaced by temporary labour contracts.

“We receive millions of foreign workers from around the world, and we recognise Ryder’s reports on the evolution of the temporary-labour migration internationally,” said Humaid bin Dimas Al Suwaidi, the undersecretary for labour affairs at the Ministry of Labour and the UAE representative at the meeting.

Temporary labour migration would not be at the expense of basic labour rights, he said.

“We would like to emphasise that we in the United Arab Emirates will spare no effort in securing legal protection for temporary workers residing on our territory,” he said. “We are fully aware of our responsibility to enable these workers to make the most of their stay and work.”