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WAM WAM Abu Dhabi, Nov. 13th, 2007 (WAM) - The following statement was released here today in response to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on Domestic Labour in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates: The UAE is a country that takes the protection of workers very seriously and has been working on several fronts simultaneously to improve the conditions and challenges faced by domestic workers. We recognize that like many responsible countries in the international community, the protection of domestic workers is a major priority for governments, and we are committed to meeting that priority at all levels.

The UAE Government is disappointed with both the quality of research and the questionable and generalized approach taken by Human Rights Watch in tackling this important issue. It is clear that once again HRW have chosen to ignore many of the positive steps adopted by the UAE in recent months to improve conditions for temporary foreign workers in the country.

Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs stated: "We in the UAE acknowledge that the protection of domestic labour is a key priority. We regret that the HRW report lacks credible research methodology. In the future, we encourage HRW to visit the country and view the progress on the ground before publishing its conclusions. While we also acknowledge that our system is a work in progress, we have and will continue to strive with commitment towards ensuring the protection of all people who visit and work in our country and contribute to its many achievements. It is also important to note that a large part of the UAE's population is made up of foreign workers attracted by the positive employment opportunities available in this country." Findings in the HRW report seem to be based on a statistically unrepresentative sample of interviews with Sri Lankan women who have worked across the entire Middle East region. Regrettably, HRW have not fully assessed the real situation on the ground in the UAE nor spoken to any of the officials and government agencies involved in protecting worker rights and managing conditions in the country before publishing these most recent findings.

Many of the key recommendations outlined by Human Rights Watch in its report have already been met, or are in progress in the UAE. For example: - The UAE decreed the drafting of a new law in October 2007 to protect and regulate the domestic labour force which will afford them the protection given to other workers under UAE federal labour law. This law will be guided by local and international standards and practices and is one of the first of its kind in the region. The new initiative will particularly benefit women which is a key concern of the UAE as part of the state's obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW.) - The UAE in April of 2006 enforced mandatory employment contracts to protect the rights of domestic workers in relation to salary, accommodation, healthcare and working hours. Key features of the employment contract include: 1. Valid for two years 2. Three copies of contract in Arabic and English, with each party having one and a third with the Residency Department 3. A month's paid leave in two years and medical aid provision 4. Unit at Residency Department to arbitrate disputes 5. One-way ticket at end of contract - if the contract is ended by the sponsor before its expiry, a ticket and a month's salary shall be paid to the worker.

6. Disputes not settled within two weeks to be referred to courts 7. Fees charged by recruiting agencies to be checked through coordination with consulates of labor exporting countries 8. In case of death of the domestic worker, employer responsible to repatriate the body of the deceased and personal belongings 9. Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD) to announce new procedures after the amnesty to ensure that domestic workers have legal status 10. Heavy fines of up to Dh50,000 for hiring illegal domestic maids will be imposed by Naturalization and Residency Department - In May 2006 the UAE relaxed the regulations for employees wishing to change jobs and sponsors to facilitate job movement. Apart from helping housemaids amongst others in finding new jobs, the decision is expected to help reduce the number of domestic labourers entering the country and reduce the instances of those absconding. Withholding of employee passports is illegal as of December 2001 and is being strongly addressed as a punishable employment practice.

- The UAE has pursued active bilateral cooperation with labour exporting countries by signing at least five MoUs to date (Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) and encouraging these countries to tackle the problems of illegal recruitment agencies and labour abuse. A wage standard has been introduced by some of these countries including Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. In order to protect cases of domestic worker abuse, age regulations have also been imposed by two of these countries which the UAE fully supports in its efforts to stop domestic physical or sexual abuse. Such occurrences go deeply against the principles and beliefs of this country. We are doing our best to ensure that no person living, working and contributing to this society undergoes any such form of abuse.

- As part of the UAE's concern for victims of abuse, a victim care program became operational in 2003.

Launched by the Dubai Police's Human Rights Department, it provides psychological, emotional, and legal assistance to victims of sexual crimes. Women who suffer from abuse can call the social services division at four different numbers or the social services section of police stations. Furthermore, since September 2007 the Dubai Shelter for Women and Children has been operational to provide victim support and psychological care. The shelter will provide a model for other support centers across the UAE.

- The Emirate of Abu Dhabi has introduced a comprehensive and compulsory insurance policy for all workers including domestic, to be borne at the expense of sponsors. Abu Dhabi has also embarked on a major program to build model labour accommodation in the UAE.

- As well as focusing on the challenges of domestic labour, a number of measures have been taken to protect the entire labour force including most recently a proposal from the Ministerial Service Council to set up a national authority for inspection and occupational health and safety, to implement labour laws and ensure the compliance of companies with occupational health and safety rules. Other measures taken over the previous two years have included heavy penalization of companies found to be violating labour laws, an extensive increase in the numbers and training of site inspectors and the introduction of an electronic wage payment system by 2008 which will eradicate the illegal activity of late wage payment.

The above measures demonstrate the UAE's prioritization of labour market regulation and protection as a key national issue. The initiatives undertaken by the UAE to protect domestic workers are in contrast to the assertions in the HRW report that such laws and mechanisms are not in place in this country. While much remains to be accomplished, the UAE government - working with the private sector and other organizations - is taking significant initiatives to protect human rights and to improve the environments of all workers in the country. The number of expatriate workers in the UAE is exceptionally large and culturally diverse and the UAE is approaching this challenge with political will, financial and human resources and a moral commitment to all residents of the UAE.

WAM/MAB

Human rights and Gulf states ? I dont understand something ?

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