Legal consultations through WhatsApp to speed up labour disputes in Dubai

Six initiatives to reduce the processing period for labour disputes and settlements from 30 to 10 days have been launched by Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

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Providing legal consultations through WhatsApp is one of six initiatives launched by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation to reduce the processing period for labour disputes and settlements from 30 days to 10.

Mohammed Al Hammadi, director of labour relations at the ministry in Dubai, said consultations via the instant messaging smartphone app meant that labour inquiries can now be answered within a day.

“It will help in explaining and clarifying the rights and duties of both the employer and employee before taking any legal action,” he said.

The initiative one of six produced as part of the ministry’s Government Accelerators project — in collaboration with Dubai Courts — to speed up official procedures.

Another is the "green room", a room with plants hanging along the walls at the ministry where legal disputes can be settled.

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“[The green room] allows both parties to negotiate and try to resolve the dispute in a calm and positive atmosphere without the intervention of the ministry’s legal researchers,” said Mr Al Hammadi.

A gold and black points initiative has also been introduced in collaboration with Dubai Courts to monitor and reward companies that successfully contribute to the objectives of the Government Acceleration Team.

The initiatives will also include a Mobile Labour Court along with an Electronic Referral system and a Labour case list model.