Abdul Rahman Al Baloushi, director of the international cooperation department of the Justice Ministry announced that a new law designed to combat human trafficking would be issued by the end of the year. The said law, which has been drafted by the ministry, seeks to criminalize trafficking while protecting its victims. The draft law also seeks to impose stiffer penalties for all forms of trafficking. Al Baloushi’s announcement followed the release of the sixth annual Trafficking in Persons report, which upgraded the UAE to Tier Two classification this year due its efforts in repatriating over 1,000 child camel jockeys and in establishing a shelter for victims. However, the report said the emirates still has to address other pertinent issues, such as the trafficking into the UAE of some 10,000 women from Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the abuse of foreign domestic workers and exploitation of South Asian workers in the construction industry.
In a related development, a high-level UAE delegation led recently attended a three-day expert group meeting in Vienna. The team was there to participate in the development and drafting of model anti-trafficking legislation that are consistent with international laws and conventions. The model legislation drafted in the meeting would be referred to member countries for adoption.
The Labor Ministry announced plans to limit the stay of unskilled foreign laborers and domestic workers to a maximum of six years. Dr. Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka’abi disclosed that the UAE has entered into an agreement with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to consider its two million unskilled foreign workers as “temporary contractual workers." The change in status of unskilled workers from immigrants to temporary contractual workers would enable the country to enforce the six-year limit on their stay.
Dr. Hanif Hassan, Minister of Education (MoE) announced at a recent press conference that there are now 500 vacancies for teaching positions available for UAE nationals. The announcement came after the MoE terminated the services of some 503 expatriates, including 389 female and 114 male teachers, who have been working in various educational zones. Termination of services of expatriate teachers has so far been mainly restricted to three sections, namely Mathematics, English and Arabic, and some in kindergarten and Islamic studies for females and select sections allocated for male teachers.
According to labor minister Dr. Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka’abi, foreign workers who intend to take up jobs in the UAE would also be required to undergo medical screening in their home countries to ensure that they are free from any contagious diseases before being allowed into the emirates. The minister said that under current regulations, foreign workers undergo health screening only upon arrival in the UAE. Many of those who test positive for contagious diseases tended to run away, posing threats to the health status of UAE citizens.
Starting 1 July, all companies that employ more than 1,000 workers would be obliged to participate in the Abu Dhabi health insurance scheme, while companies with less than 1,000 employees would be required to join the scheme by January 2007. All employers and sponsors would be responsible for providing health insurance coverage for their staff; otherwise they will be responsible for shouldering the medical costs of their uninsured workers. More than 500,000 expatriate employees are expected to benefit from the new health insurance law.
Dubai authorities rescued the manager and deputy manager of the Gohchong Company who were held hostage at a labor camp by more than 319 Chinese workers of the construction company on 11 June. The workers, who initially went on strike for three days to protest the nonpayment of their salaries, first held their Singaporean manager, Yon Dock, hostage. He was released on 8 June after the workers’ wages were paid. On 10 June, the workers again went on strike after discovering the company’s plan to deport some of the workers for unruly behavior. This time they took Yon and his deputy as hostages. A riot team from the Dubai police surrounded the strikers and using teargas and water cannons dispersed them and rescued the two hostages.
Philippine Consul General Antonio Curameng sought the intervention of His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, member of the Supreme Council and ruler of Fujairah, for the immediate release of the passport of Filipina domestic worker, J.E. The Filipina’s employer continued to hold on to her passport and refused to coordinate with Philippine authorities in settling the workers’ back wages and air ticket even after the theft charges against her had been dismissed by the court. With Shaikh Hamad’s help, J.E. was able to get her passport back.
In a related development, Aref Mirza, director of the legal department of the Ministry of Labor said that the common practice by private businesses and government institutions of retaining passports in the UAE is illegal. Mirza said the practice is tantamount to forced labor and is a violation of the International Labor Organization’s Convention on the Abolition of Forced Labor, to which the UAE is a signatory.
Nopakhun Luichant, consul of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Dubai, urged all Thai nationals who come to the UAE to register their names with the Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the consulate in Dubai. The call is being made to all Thais in the UAE, whether on visit or employment visas, to enable their country’s representatives to check on their welfare. The consul called on Thai visit visa holders who intend to look for employment in the UAE to visit the consulate office to let officials know about their presence. Visit visa holders who seek jobs in the emirate are extremely vulnerable to unjust labor treatment.
Sources: Mohsen Rashid, “503 expat teachers will be replaced by nationals," Khaleej Times, 2 June 2006; “Model law to curb human trafficking," Khaleej Times, 4 June 2006; 2006; Samir Salama, “Medicals for UAE-bound workers," Gulf News, 8 June 2006; Samir Salama, “Unskilled workers can stay for 6 years: Al Ka’abi," Gulf News, 8 June 2006; “UAE mulls 6-year limit for unskilled expats," Trade Arabia, 8 June 2006; Samir Salama, “UAE plans law against human trafficking," Gulf News, 9 June 2006; “Thais urged to register names with embassy," Khaleej Times, 9 June 2006; Rania Habib, “Health insurance cover for low-income expats from July," Gulf News, 11 June 2006; Amira Agarib, “Chinese workers hold manager, deputy hostage," Khaleej Times, 12 June 2006; Criselda Diala, “Ruler to rescue of Filipina maid," Khaleej Times, 12 June 2006; Samir Salama, “Retaining passports is ‘forcible labour’," Gulf News, 13 June 2006