ABU DHABI // Bringing in expatriate labour to be “enslaved” is never permissible, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour has warned.
During a visit from a Federal National Council committee to the ministry on Monday, Humaid bin Deemas told members that the job change system protected the rights of employees and employers.
He said companies could not restrict employees who have fulfilled their contracts from changing jobs, while staff had to respect their two-year contracts.
“We in the UAE are proud of our labour practices,” he said. “Enslaving employees is not acceptable here at all.”
He said the law ensured that employees received their rights before leaving a job, and that expatriates made up 99 per cent of the labour market and needed the Government to protect them.
Backed up by international reports, Mr bin Deemas said the UAE had been doing a good job of this.
He said that while the number of workers in the market had not increased in the past year from four million, the labour market was still stable.
“After the economic crisis, the foreign press said the UAE would lose 35 per cent of its labour,” he said. “But, thankfully, numbers say yes there is no increase but there is stability. Four million are still here, with people leaving and coming. If there was a lot of violations and restrictions on them, people wouldn’t be coming.”
He told the FNC the ministry was working to help workers feel more secure.
But Dr Shaikha Al Ari (UAQ) said that with contracts allowing employees to move from one place to another, Emirati business owners were suffering. She said they bear the cost of bringing in an employee and training them only to later find they are in competition.
Sultan Al Sammahi (Fujairah) said that in some cases, expatriate workers have returned to buy the Emirati’s company.
“These are cases that have come to us,” he said.
But Mr bin Deemas said the two-year contracts were more than enough and employees had the right to change jobs as they pleased after that.
He said the two-year contract policy was followed in other countries, including Canada and Germany, and that it had even been changed to one year in Saudi Arabia.
“But there is a clause in the law that states that if they will compete with the company, they will be subject to a work ban,” he said. “Some people neglect that part of the law.”
The visit was part of the committee’s long-term study on how the labour market is regulated. The results will be publicly discussed at a future FNC session.
osalem@thenational.ae
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
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Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
Blonde
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends