LABOR UNIONS

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001985 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL AND EB/CBA STATE PASS OPIC/OPIC INTERNATIONAL POLICY DEPARTMENT FOR VIRGINIA GREEN AND CONSTANCE SHINN STATE PASS USTR JASON BUNTIN USDOC FOR ITA/MAC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PHUM PGOV PREL SOCI CVIS GTIP TC SUBJECT: LABOR UNIONS ¶1. UAE Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Mattar Humaid Al- Tayer has confirmed that the Cabinet of Ministers will approve a new law this year allowing workers to join labor unions. Al-Tayer, speaking at the 92nd Session of the International Labor Organization in Geneva, said the draft law is in its final stages. He said a law allowing labor unions would put the UAE on par with other GCC states and keep pace with international developments in labor relations. A draft law has been in the pipeline for years. Trade unions would be limited to UAE citizens, Al-Tayer said. Expatriate workers would be represented through special committees. The local press reported Al-Tayer's remarks on June 11 and 12. ¶2. Comment: The UAE has made a number of strides in improving the conditions of labor in this country. A new labor law that permits the right of association and collective bargaining is a key missing piece. The UAEG has made it clear in its discussions with us that they have concerns about their large foreign work force and how to balance labor rights with the UAE's national security concerns. They have always stated that the large population of foreign workers would have some type of representation, but this is the highest-level public statement on UAEG thinking about how it might work. End Comment WAHBA