Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI1935
2003-04-22 13:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE HOPES TO IMPLEMENT LABOR UNION LAW BY
null Diana T Fritz 05/24/2007 04:27:37 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM April 22, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 1935 - ROUTINE) TAGS: ELAB, PREL, PHUM, PGOV, SOCI, CVIS Captions: None Subject: UAE HOPES TO IMPLEMENT LABOR UNION LAW BY THE END OF THE YEAR Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 01935 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: P/M AMB DCM POL Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM: RAALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON: GARANA CLEARED: ECON: TEWILLIAMS VZCZCADI761 RR RUEHC RUCPDOC RUEHC RUEHZM RUEHTU DE RUEHAD #1935 1121327 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 221327Z APR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9549 INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0502
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001935
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL AND EB/CBA
STATE PASS OPIC/OPIC INTERNATIONAL POLICY DEPARTMENT
FOR VIRGINIA GREEN AND CONSTANCE SHINN
AMEMBASSY TUNIS HOLD FOR FSI: OLIVER JOHN
USDOC FOR 4530/ITA/MAC/ONE/DGUGLIELMI,
4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU,
4500/ITA/MAC/DAS/WILLIAMSON,
3131/CS/OIO/ANESA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PREL PHUM PGOV SOCI CVIS TC
SUBJECT: UAE HOPES TO IMPLEMENT LABOR UNION LAW BY
THE END OF THE YEAR
REF: ABU DHABI 941
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001935
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL AND EB/CBA
STATE PASS OPIC/OPIC INTERNATIONAL POLICY DEPARTMENT
FOR VIRGINIA GREEN AND CONSTANCE SHINN
AMEMBASSY TUNIS HOLD FOR FSI: OLIVER JOHN
USDOC FOR 4530/ITA/MAC/ONE/DGUGLIELMI,
4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU,
4500/ITA/MAC/DAS/WILLIAMSON,
3131/CS/OIO/ANESA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PREL PHUM PGOV SOCI CVIS TC
SUBJECT: UAE HOPES TO IMPLEMENT LABOR UNION LAW BY
THE END OF THE YEAR
REF: ABU DHABI 941
1. (SBU) UAE Labor Minister Matar Al-Tayer informed
DCM on April 21 that the final draft of the new UAE
labor law which permits the creation of formal labor
associations/unions, would be sent to the inter-
ministerial review committee by the end of the week.
(See reftel). The proposed legislation, permitting
fifty or more nationals to form unions and
associations, would then be reviewed by the cabinet
and finally the Federal National Council. Al-Tayer
expects the review process to be completed by summer
and the law to be enacted by the end of the year.
According to the Minister, the labor law was revised
after extensive consultation with the International
Labour Organization and in coordination with various
elements of UAE society. (Note: In a separate
conversation with Econoff, Labor Undersecretary Khalid
Al-Khazraji, hinted that the proposal might be more
forward-leaning than originally proposed but he
declined to give further details. End note.)
2. (SBU) Al-Tayer explained that the underlying
premise of the new law was the "wave of the future" --
a demand on the part of the people to voice their
opinions concerning their own development and well-
being. The right to unionize and form associations
was thus was consonant with other efforts to provide
greater participation in public life, such as Dubai's
creation of elected district councils.
3. (SBU) Comment: Al-Tayer's and Al-Khazraji's
comments indicate that the UAEG is ready to proceed
with legislation permitting the creation of labor
unions/associations. Elements of the UAEG clearly
understand that such a step is necessary for a modern
economy. Here it is worth noting that the Labor
Ministry is a Dubai-headed organization, and thus may
be more ambitious and progressive than other elements
of the federal, or indeed, Emirate-level, government.
Al-Tayer conceded that the plan must be fully vetted
by the various layers of the UAEG bureaucracy before
it can be implemented. When asked by the DCM how he
thought other governmental agencies, particularly the
powerful Emirate-level bureaucracies, would react to
the proposal, Al-Tayer said, "I don't know. We
haven't asked them yet." End comment.
Wahba
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL AND EB/CBA
STATE PASS OPIC/OPIC INTERNATIONAL POLICY DEPARTMENT
FOR VIRGINIA GREEN AND CONSTANCE SHINN
AMEMBASSY TUNIS HOLD FOR FSI: OLIVER JOHN
USDOC FOR 4530/ITA/MAC/ONE/DGUGLIELMI,
4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU,
4500/ITA/MAC/DAS/WILLIAMSON,
3131/CS/OIO/ANESA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PREL PHUM PGOV SOCI CVIS TC
SUBJECT: UAE HOPES TO IMPLEMENT LABOR UNION LAW BY
THE END OF THE YEAR
REF: ABU DHABI 941
1. (SBU) UAE Labor Minister Matar Al-Tayer informed
DCM on April 21 that the final draft of the new UAE
labor law which permits the creation of formal labor
associations/unions, would be sent to the inter-
ministerial review committee by the end of the week.
(See reftel). The proposed legislation, permitting
fifty or more nationals to form unions and
associations, would then be reviewed by the cabinet
and finally the Federal National Council. Al-Tayer
expects the review process to be completed by summer
and the law to be enacted by the end of the year.
According to the Minister, the labor law was revised
after extensive consultation with the International
Labour Organization and in coordination with various
elements of UAE society. (Note: In a separate
conversation with Econoff, Labor Undersecretary Khalid
Al-Khazraji, hinted that the proposal might be more
forward-leaning than originally proposed but he
declined to give further details. End note.)
2. (SBU) Al-Tayer explained that the underlying
premise of the new law was the "wave of the future" --
a demand on the part of the people to voice their
opinions concerning their own development and well-
being. The right to unionize and form associations
was thus was consonant with other efforts to provide
greater participation in public life, such as Dubai's
creation of elected district councils.
3. (SBU) Comment: Al-Tayer's and Al-Khazraji's
comments indicate that the UAEG is ready to proceed
with legislation permitting the creation of labor
unions/associations. Elements of the UAEG clearly
understand that such a step is necessary for a modern
economy. Here it is worth noting that the Labor
Ministry is a Dubai-headed organization, and thus may
be more ambitious and progressive than other elements
of the federal, or indeed, Emirate-level, government.
Al-Tayer conceded that the plan must be fully vetted
by the various layers of the UAEG bureaucracy before
it can be implemented. When asked by the DCM how he
thought other governmental agencies, particularly the
powerful Emirate-level bureaucracies, would react to
the proposal, Al-Tayer said, "I don't know. We
haven't asked them yet." End comment.
Wahba