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UAE committed to protecting workers’ rights

The UAE is committed to protecting workers’ rights and providing a work environment that enables workers to discharge their duties in a better way, a senior labour official has affirmed.

In a statement marking the International Labour Day which falls on May 1, Jasim Jamil, Director of Guidance and Acting Director of Work Relations, Ministry of Labour, called on employers to commit themselves to these principles as workers are a fundamental asset of their firms.

Workers, he underlined, are a key partner and without them there will be no production, economy or development. He said the Ministry of Labour will start its activities on Saturday to mark the Labour Day under the theme ‘Workers Are our Partners
in Development’.

“The celebration of this important world labour occasion sends out a strong message from the state, government and community by all its forces to the workers about the ethical and principal commitment to safeguard rights of workers,’’ he added.

“This year’s theme of the Day is the same as that of the last year to confirm that workers are our true partners in development which the UAE is currently witnessing.”

The workers, he said, have been and are still contributing to the development for 38 years. “The Ministry’s initiative to celebrate the Day is primarily seeking to realise its strategy aimed at enhancing the relationship between the two parties of production — employers and workers,” he said, noting that workers will be involved heavily in all activities of celebration.

“Protection of workers will serve at the same time interests of employers because workers who enjoy their full rights will work hard to increase productivity and then benefit local community,’’ he stressed.

Events

He said the Ministry has lined up a plethora of events from May 1 to 6 to mark the Day, including a marathon for workers on Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Saturday and cricket and volleyball matches in a number of companies and workers’ villages.

Photo exhibitions will be staged in major shopping centres across the country. On the second day of the celebrations, government officials will visit sick workers in hospitals in Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman to

present them with gifts. Field visits will be conducted to workers’ housing complexes at Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD).

Awareness lectures will be organised at the workers’ accommodation
sites on Yas Island.

adel@khaleejtimes.com