ILO and UAE agree on capacity building programme for the MoL to govern its labour market and monitor working conditions
The two-year project will improve the UAE’s capacity to govern its labour market and monitor working conditions, including those of migrant workers.
Kuwait (ILO News) – The ILO and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed an agreement to initiate an important new ILO project to build capacity of the MOL to manage and monitor its labour market for the benefit of workers including migrant workers on Sunday (19 April).
In addition to providing policy makers with the tools and information to orient labour market policy and monitor progress, the project will enhance labour inspection capacity to monitor working conditions, develop dispute prevention and resolution mechanisms, and improve access to justice for migrant workers. The UAE-funded project will also develop a national occupational safety and health policy, which aims to facilitate a culture of prevention of occupational accidents and injuries.
“This agreement marks a hopeful sign towards improved governance of the UAE labour market and enhanced labour law enforcement,” said ILO Director General Guy Ryder.
The agreement for the two-year project was signed on the sidelines of the 42nd Arab Labour Conference in Kuwait by the UAE Undersecretary of Labour Mubarak Saeed Al-Dhaheri and Acting Regional Director of the ILO Office for the Arab States Frank Hagemann.
“Through this project, the ILO and the UAE will work to advance the technical capacity of the Emirates to govern its labour market, bring its policies in line with international best practices, and protect the labour rights of workers in the Emirates,” Hagemann said.
“As migrant workers make up a significant proportion of workers in the private sector, this project will directly benefit migrant workers.”
The project was jointly developed by the UAE and the ILO and will contribute directly to UAE Vision 2021, the UAE government’s developmental priorities under its Government Strategy and the UAE-United Nations Country Team Common Strategic Framework (2012-2016).
Director-General Ryder furthermore expressed appreciation for the policy direction the UAE is taking, upon hearing from the Minister of Labour H.E. Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash about policies the country will adopt and implement to improve the lives of migrant workers.
For media queries, contact:
Salwa Kanaana, Regional Communication and Public Information Officer, ILO Regional Office for Arab States, Tel: +961 1 752 400 (Ext 117), Mobile: +961 71 505958, email: kanaana@ilo.org
