Today's Edition
Sami Abdulraouf (Dubai)
Last year proved to be full of achievements for the Ministry of Human Resouces and Emiratisation (MoHRE), characterised by highlights including over 400,000 inspection visits paid to private sector facilities in 2023, the astounding success of the “Tawjeeh” programme - which benefitted over two million private sector employees, along with the Ministry’s successful resolution of over 80% of complaints.
A Successful Year for the ‘Tawjeeh’ Programme
Over 2.3 million private sector employees benefitted from the “Tawjeeh” programme for labour rights and regulation awareness in 2023, with programmes conducted in 15 languages. Ministry data showed that more than 500,000 workers out of the 2.3 million completed the “Tawjeeh” programmes by themselves (self-guidance) in 2023, while others participated in the programme through 104 specialised centres dedicated to educating the workforce.
Since the programme’s inception, around 6.2 million workers have benefitted from the programme by learning about labour market regulations, along with employee rights and obligations, including general information on life in the UAE and the country’s social traditions.
Labour Market Supervision and Inspection Visits
The MoHRE in 2023 conducted around 423,000 inspections of private sector facilities in 2023, which it said allowed it to detect many violations, which most notably include the following: non-compliance with work, health, and occupational safety requirements; violations of the wage protection system; non-compliant housing within approved standards; failure to comply with the ban on working at noon; failure to comply with regulations on issuing contracts and work permits; practicing intermediary or temporary employment agency activities without a license; and visual localisation.
In alignment with its supervisory role within the labour market, the MoHRE applies a monitoring system with the aim of ensuring the balanced rights of both parties in a contractual working relationship. Ensuring that these rights are upheld positively benefits the labour market’s competitiveness, attractiveness, and stability, allowing the country to attract the best local and international talents.
This contributes to building an economic system that is the strongest, fastest-growing, most flexible, and sustainable in the world.
The MoHRE has adopted several electronic programmes to automate inspection operations, such as the “Inspector Application” and “Smart Inspection Forms and Maps”, to ensure that inspection operations are carried out with the highest levels of efficiency, accuracy, and transparency. These automated inspections rely on a risk matrix and identifying risk factors that measure the discipline of the labour market.
The risk matrix is the main driver for guiding control operations, especially given that the inputs and data are provided by MoHRE systems and external systems affiliated with relevant authorities, in addition to the public’s reports of violations through official channels, such as the smart application and business centres.
Successfully Resolving Complaints
The Ministry also successfully addressed approximately 81% of the labor complaints it received over the past year, many of which were resolved through mutual agreement on amicable solutions, ensuring that the individuals involved obtained their legal rights.
Simultaneously, the MoHRE referred about 19% of the total complaints to labour courts during the same period, as settlement between the parties involved proved challenging. MoHRE statistics show that over 221,000 complaints were submitted anonymously from January to November of 2023.
The country’s labour market averages complaints at a rate of only 3 complaints per 100 workers. The MoHRE has stressed that it remains committed to providing balanced protection for both parties in the employment relationship, contributing to the UAE’s global leadership as a great destination for living, investing, and working within a competitive and flexible labour market. This commitment is supported by a legal and legislative framework that safeguards the rights of all, aligning with the country’s adherence to international labour agreements.
The MoHRE aims to facilitate the procedures for submitting and reviewing complaints, ensuring transparency and neutrality through specialised legal researchers. This approach aligns with the provisions of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 regarding the regulation of labour relations and its amendments, as well as its executive regulations and implementing ministerial decisions.
The legal researchers are dedicated to resolving complaints amicably, saving time and effort for complainants and labour courts alike.
