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

Tags:  ELAB PREL PHUM PGOV SOCI CVIS TC 
pdf how-to read a cable
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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