ABU DHABI // The UAE has voted for a new international convention that guarantees a lengthy list of rights to domestic staff.
They include clearly defined conditions of employment before work begins, agency fees paid by employers and not deducted from staff's wages, salary payment in cash at least once a month, at least one day off a week, and rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
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The convention also governs payments in kind: they must be the same as those received by other workers, and agreed with each domestic employee.
The International Labour Organisation's Convention 189 and Recommendation 201 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers was approved by delegates from ILO member states at a conference in Geneva.
The convention requires migrant domestic workers recruited in one country for domestic work in another to receive a written job offer or contract of employment before they start work, although this will not apply in countries recruiting from within regional organisations such as the Gulf Co-operation Council.
The UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia delegates were among the 396 who voted in favour of the convention. There were 16 votes against, including India.
The ILO is a United Nations body responsible for international labour standards. It is the only tripartite UN agency, including representatives of governments, employers and workers.
Before the convention comes into force, a two-stage ratification process must be completed.
First, governments must verify to what extent their existing laws meet the convention's requirements. If necessary, "they must then work to align themselves with the convention", said Manuela Tomei, director of the ILO's conditions of work and employment programme. This may involve new legislation or amendments to existing law.
Some countries, such as Brazil, have already said they will ratify.
It was unclear last night how advanced the UAE's plans for ratification and legal alignment were. "It is easy to discuss legal texts and conventions," said Humaid Rashid bin Demas, undersecretary at the Ministry of Labour and part of the UAE delegation. "We may even amend national legislation and ratify conventions, but the real challenge is how to make these principles a reality.
"In discussing and adopting this convention, we have accepted an international and national obligation. We hope that our commitment to domestic workers will be both a legal and a moral one."
Yesterday he said the Government would issue a statement on the matter shortly.
The Interior Ministry is drawing up new laws and regulations covering the rights of housemaids, but no further details have been issued.
There may be hurdles before the convention becomes law in the UAE. For examples, signatories must ensure that "domestic workers enjoy minimum wage coverage, where such coverage exists".
The UAE minimum-wage rules apply only to employees with at least a secondary school education, a requirement for many nannies, and whose emploment is regulated by the Ministry of Labour. However, domestic staff are the remit of the Ministry of Interior.
In addition, the requirement that signatories to the convention grant domestic workers the right to collective bargaining may contradict existing laws, which do not allow for trades unions.
About a third of the Gulf's 22 million migrant workers are engaged in domestic work, nine out of 10 of them women, and it is among the lowest paid work in the world.
In a statement last Thursday, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) singled out Gulf states for criticism. Sharan Burrow, its general secretary, said: "The international union movement will continue to shed light on the working conditions of migrant domestic workers in the Gulf countries, in particular Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain."
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
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Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
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Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 43')
Man of the match: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now