UAE recommends to GCC states its three initiatives for labour welfare

Riyadh - May 24, 2012 (WAM) - The United Arab Emirates has recommended to the other member states in the Gulf Cooperation Council, its three initiatives for labour welfare. The initiatives, hailed worldwide, includes the unique Wage Protection System (WPS), the Tas'heel Centres and the electronic ratification of labour contracts for expatriate workers. UAE explained these three initiatives at a meeting of the Undersecretaries of Labour ministries in the GCC States concluded Monday in Riyadh. WPS is an initiative conceived and developed by UAE to safeguard payment of workers' wages via transfers through selected financial institutions, that will be authorised as well as regulated by the government. The initiative benefitting over four million workers was launched early in 2009. Tas'heel, an online government system designed to simplify all labour-related processes, was introduced to save the time and effort of customers by providing the services, from typing application to cancelling of cards, at one stop, without having to visit the Labour Ministry offices. The electronic ratification system on the labour contracts over the Internet was introduced recently in collaboration with India's Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. It is a quantum leap providing greater protection to the interests of workers coming to or leaving the UAE. – Emirates News Agency, WAM