UAE CABINET APPROVES SETTING UP LABOR UNIONS

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002154 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL, G/TIP, 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 PREL PHUM PGOV SOCI CVIS GTIP TC SUBJECT: UAE CABINET APPROVES SETTING UP LABOR UNIONS ¶1. (U) THE UAE'S CABINET OF MINISTERS ON JUNE 28 APPROVED A MEMO SUBMITTED BY THE MINISTER OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS CALLING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LABOR UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS IN THE UAE. THE GOVERNMENT'S NEXT STEP WILL BE TO FORM A MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE TO DRAFT A FEDERAL LAW CREATING UNIONS. THAT COMMITTEE WILL HAVE SIX MONTHS TO SUBMIT THE DRAFT LAW TO THE CABINET FOR APPROVAL. UNLIKE THE CURRENT LABOR LAW, WHICH ONLY COVERS PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES, THE NEW, DISTINCT FEDERAL LAW COVERING UNIONS WILL INCLUDE EMPLOYEES FROM BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT DIVULGED INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXACT ROLE UNIONS WILL PLAY AND MEMBERSHIP CONDITIONS. ¶2. (SBU) THE UAE CONTINUES TO COMMIT ITSELF TO BRINGING LOCAL LABOR LAWS AND REGULATIONS INTO COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS. APPROVING THE CREATION OF LABOR UNIONS IS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD BECAUSE IT WILL OFFICIALLY ENSURE LABORERS' RIGHTS TO ORGANIZE AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY. POST WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR PROGRESS ON THE NEW FEDERAL LAW. ALBRIGHT