Dubai: The UAE used the 10th BRICS Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting held in Sochi, Russia, to present ‘UAE labour policies’ to the world. Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, led the UAE delegation. The meeting addressed global labour trends with officials from BRICS countries, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the International Social Security Association (ISSA).
Dr. Al Awar reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to building a knowledge-based labour market, aligned with its economic vision. He noted, “The UAE Government has allocated 16 percent of the federal budget to education in 2024, while also advancing the National Strategy for Higher Education 2030 to equip future generations with technical and practical skills.”
He emphasized the need for lifelong vocational education and career guidance to meet the demands of a rapidly changing labour market. The Nafis programme, launched in 2021, has contributed to a 217 percent increase in Emiratis working in the private sector.
Addressing the rise of remote work, Al Awar stated, “Employees engaged in remote work are afforded the same legal protections under the Federal Decree-Law Regarding the Regulation of Employment Relationships as those in traditional work arrangements.”
He added, “The UAE is guided by a strategy to double the digital economy’s contribution to the GDP from 9.7 percent in 2022 to 19.4 percent over the next decade, positioning the UAE as a global digital hub.”
Dr. Al Awar also highlighted the UAE’s strong global rankings in employment and labour dispute resolution, according to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024. He stressed the importance of recent labour policies, including the Wage Protection System, health insurance expansion, and worker safety measures, such as the summer midday work ban to protect workers from heat stress.
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