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Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI941
2003-02-26 08:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAE DRAFTS LABOR UNION REGULATIONS

Tags:   ELAB  PREL  PHUM  PGOV  SOCI  CVIS  TC 
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Diana T Fritz  06/05/2007 10:20:26 AM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

Cable 
Text:                                                                      
                                                                           
      
UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM                                        February 26, 2003


To:       No Action Addressee                                    

Action:   Unknown                                                

From:     AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 941 - ROUTINE)          

TAGS:     ELAB, PREL, PHUM, PGOV, SOCI, CVIS                     

Captions: None                                                   

Subject:  UAE DRAFTS LABOR UNION REGULATIONS                     

Ref:      None                                                   
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS        ABU DHABI 00941

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

VZCZCADI402
RR RUEHC RUCPDOC RUEHZM
DE RUEHAD #0941 0570839
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 260839Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8558
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE
						UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000941 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL AND EB/CBA 
STATE PASS OPIC/OPIC INTERNATIONAL POLICY DEPARTMENT FOR 
VIRGINIA GREEN AND HARVEY HAMBURG 
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 DRAFTS LABOR UNION REGULATIONS
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000941

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL AND EB/CBA
STATE PASS OPIC/OPIC INTERNATIONAL POLICY DEPARTMENT FOR
VIRGINIA GREEN AND HARVEY HAMBURG
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 DRAFTS LABOR UNION REGULATIONS


1. (U) The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs completed
the final draft of a proposal permitting the creation of
full-fledged labor unions, on 2/24. The plan will be
reviewed by the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of
Justice, Islamic Affairs and Awqaf before a final proposal
is submitted to the Cabinet. After approval by the Cabinet,
the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs will enact a bylaw
to institute the new policy. The Ministry will also
establish a new department responsible for handling matters
related to labor unions.


2. (U) Under the draft proposal, the Labour Ministry will
establish membership conditions for new unions. A worker is
defined as a "person who works in a public or private
organization and gets paid for his work." Groups of twenty
or more nationals working in a profession or trade will be
permitted to organize to protect their rights and interests.
Organizations will be allowed to join Arab or international
trade unions and the proposal also refers to the possibility
of establishing a unified labor federation in the UAE.
Expatriate laborers working in the UAE for more than six
years will be allowed to join as associate members but will
not be permitted to vote or contest elections.


3. (SBU) Comment: The draft proposal by the Labour Ministry
is another step in the right direction by the UAEG to bring
domestic labor laws into conformity with international
standards. While workers here continue to have considerable
rights of association -- and there have even been strikes
(often by expatriates over non-payment of wages) -- these
new proposals will officially ensure workers' rights to
organize and bargain collectively. The Embassy will follow-
up with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs on the
draft proposal and monitor its movement through the
government.

Wahba