Ghobash launches second phase of ‘Know Your Rights’ campaign at ICAD labour camp

Abu Dhabi, April 7, 2016 (WAM): Saqr bin Ghubash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, today launched the second phase of the "Know Your Rights" campaign before 400 workers at the ICAD labour camp in Abu Dhabi. This follows the first phase of the campaign, which was launched at the Dubai International Airports on 18 February. He said, "The campaign aims to educate many workers either residing or arriving to the UAE. Through this campaign, we will benefit thousands of workers especially after initiating the second phase which takes place at the "ICAD" labour camp that accommodates thousands." "Through our campaign, we seek to educate labourers about the newly launched decrees which took effect earlier this year, as well as inform them about their rights and obligations towards the employer. Moreover, aside from ‘know your rights’ campaign, both employers and Labourers will also be notified about labour rights duties towards each other through different activities and events that shall commence at different labour camps or working sites throughout the year to positively reach and maintain a stable labour market," Ghobash said. He stressed, "The UAE is committed to providing all means of protection to workers’ rights while ensuring employers’ interests are being met, therefore the government approved the new decrees which aim to promote a balanced and productive working relationship between both ends that had been bonded by a unified standard labour contracts." Upon the launch of the second phase of the campaign, Ghobash approached the workers who had been divided into four groups at the sports hall of the "ICAD" camp and partook in distributing booklet that had been printed in several languages. He urged the inspectors, working on the ministry stalls, to stay alert towards any inquiries issued by any of the workers at all times. Likewise, labour camps across the country are likely to see similar visits by the inspection teams who will dedicate time and efforts to attend to all inquiries. During the visit, Ghobash was also briefed on the smart kiosk that was available in the sports hall beside the ministry’s informative stall, which had been assembled by the MOHRE guidance department. Linked to the Internet, the device would take in all the data put forth by the labourer by reading the ID cards, sends them a welcoming message and then takes them to an introductory journey about UAE labour laws and regulations, through a 20min Short film that had been prepared in several languages. Booklets included the distribution of several booklets printed in 11 languages, Arabic, English, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam language and Afghan, The Sinhalese, Chinese, Nepalese and Tamil and Bengali. The booklets include legal guidelines to educate workers during the period before and after arriving in the country as well as make them aware of their rights and obligations while on duty and how to approach labour disputes, as well as specific instructions to move to a new employer. For his part, Said Issa Al Khaili, Acting Chief Executive of the Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones, said, "The Foundation has built private residential cities for workers upon the directions of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, according to international standards. The organisation has invested more than 12.5 billion dirhams in partnership with the private sector in the country to develop 30 labour cities for workers to accommodate more than 450 thousand workers in the city of Abu Dhabi, the projects are spreading over areas in Mussafah, Mafraq, and Razeen, Hameem, Al Ain, and the Western Region. The second phase of the campaign was attended by Humaid bin Deemas Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs, and Maher Al Obed Assistant Undersecretary for the Inspection Dept. and Dr Omar Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for Policy and Strategy and a number of officials. – Emirates News Agency, WAM http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395293793024.html