UAE News Agency (WAM), Monday 8 Feb 2010

UAE Issues Worker's Rights And Duties Booklet

Abu Dhabi, WAM:

A multilingual booklet ''The Worker : Rights and Duties'' was released by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

Lt. Colonel Salah Al Gul, Director of Office of Culture of Respect for Law, the first worker's pocket book will be issued in six languages: Arabic, English, Filipino (Tagalog), Persian, Chinese and Urdu, and would be distributed to all federal government departments, concerned NGOs, labor accommodations, and media outlets.

He indicated that the booklet explains the rights and responsibilities of the worker as basis of freedom and justice and drivers for fully integrated development of the individual and community in reaching to excellence in delivering targets and aspirations of members of the community, spreading awareness among individuals about their rights and duties towards community and the state.

According to him, the booklet, which primarily seeks to fosters and heightens the culture of respecting the law and public order, features rights and duties of the worker in pursuance of laws conforming with the UAE constitution.

He hoped the legal manual would be a good friend of the worker, helping him to stay under the umbrella of the law.

The interior ministry top official affirmed the UAE's firm commitment to protecting and guaranteeing human rights whether a UAE citizen or an expatriate resident.

The UAE, he underlined, lends great attention to workers' rights according to Article 20 of UAE Constitution which says "Society shall esteem work as a cornerstone of its development. It shall endeavor to ensure that employment is available for citizens and to train them so that they are prepared for it. Legislation must uphold the rights of workers and employers consistent with advanced international standards".

Article 34 says ''Every citizen shall be free to choose his occupation, trade or profession within the limits of law. Due consideration being given to regulations organizing some of such professions and trades. No person may be subjected to force labor except in exceptional circumstances provided by the law and in return for compensation.

No person may be enslaved.

Al Gul emphasized that the worker should have a legitimate residency in the country so as to enjoy all rights enshrined in international legislations and conventions on human rights in general and labor rights in particular, otherwise he will not only be liable to legal accountability but also vulnerable to exploitation.

On the rights side, he said the worker should be well aware of the rights stated in the work contract he signed with his employer as ignorance of the worker about the contract's terms and conditions will be of no use and unjustifiable.

The worker has the right to practice his religious rituals, present his ID documents only to competent persons and not to whoever asks for them. He should not be subjected to any act that disdains his dignity or harms him physically.

The worker has the right to file a complaint against whoever commits that offence against him.

Upon delivering statement before the concerned authorities, the worker speaks his language and there should be a translator and he may opt not to sign the statements he made before legal and judicial authorities unless he reads them or being recited to him.

He has the right to know the charges he is facing, keep silence and not to answer questions and seek legal assistance.

On the duties side, Al Gul explained the worker should not break the UAE laws or disrespect its traditions, customs and heritage once he sets foot on the UAE land.
He should not deal with unofficial persons in processing his transactions.

The worker is demanded by UAE laws to respect rights of others and not offend or abuse their faith (Islam or other divine religions) otherwise he will face jail terms and fine.

Demanding rights, he stressed, doesn't give the worker the simple right to devastate properties, stage strike and sit-in or demonstration in a way that puts establishments and individuals to danger.

''The state has provided the worker with all legal channels to demand his rights and such illegal practices will be dealt with strictly, he stressed.

The worker is also demanded to follow industrial safety instructions and not to attempt to pose the work site, source of his livelihood, to any danger intentionally or unintentionally.

He should also reject any kind of work that keeps him out of eye of the state organs or breaks the state laws.

The Worker should not consume drugs, intoxicating drinks or any other unknown substances offered to him by others as this will subject him to legal accountability.

The worker should cooperate with the security and judicial authorities if asked to deliver information honestly and faithfully. Failing to deliver testimony will entail one year in jail and a fine of Dh 5000.

The worker is also demanded to report any crime he sees and prevents from circulating rumors otherwise he will face a jail term up to three years.

WAM/TF