Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The UAE has taken the lead in the region to protect the community. It is committed to eliminating all forms of poverty among society members by supporting special groups that need care and aid.
It allocates more than 5% of its federal budget to programmes that support social rights and social integration, according to the Ministry of Finance
By developing sustainable development strategies, the government aims to achieve prosperity in all sectors to provide everyone with an acceptable income, a decent life and a good standard of living.
It has ratified major International Labour Organization's conventions related to the rights of workers and has adopted numerous laws to protect workers' rights especially in the areas of recruitment, pay, housing and health.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) often launches many awareness campaigns to educate labourers about their rights.
Employment Contracts
The UAE has introduced a new standard employment contract and requested the employers to abide by it fully. This contract is mandatory to finalise the employment procedures and it applies to workers coming from outside and those residing in the UAE, as well.
Further, the UAE government launched new laws that enable workers to move freely between employers. It also reevaluated every aspect of working in the country from recruitment to housing. Reforms are made to ensure that all workers are treated respectfully and able to report instances of maltreatment easily.
Protection for Domestic Workers
The UAE has implemented a number of measures to provide protection and assistance specifically to domestic workers. Some of the measures include: a standard form of contract that specifies the rights and obligations of each party; flexibility for domestic workers to change employers; and awareness-raising initiatives to inform domestic workers of their rights.
The country also provides specific services for the benefit of domestic workers. Services range from providing dedicated service centres to offering an online platform for raising queries and complaints. Federal Decree-Law No. 21 of 2023 Amending Certain Provisions of Federal Decree-Law No.9 of 2022 Concerning Domestic Workers regulates the recruitment and employment of domestic workers in the UAE. It prohibits the following: the employment of anyone under the age 18; discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender, religion nationality and harassment, whether verbal or physical; forced labour or trafficking; and exposure to physical harm.
Financial Assistance
Those who are financially insecure, are eligible to receive monthly social assistance from the government.
According to Federal Law No. 2 of 2001, monthly assistance is provided to: widows, divorcees; the elderly, orphans; people receiving medical support, and others.
Education
The UAE provides high-quality education and plenty of job opportunities in the knowledge-driven economy. It undertakes many efforts to maintain the standard of high-quality education and provide a fair job market. It ensures that citizens and residents are capable of earning a decent livelihood and enjoy quality life..
The UAE aims to promote an inclusive environment that integrates all segments of society while preserving the UAE's unique culture, heritage and traditions and reinforces social and family cohesion.
Pension for Citizen Employees
Public and private entities across the UAE must register their Emirati employees with the General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) from the first month of their employment.
Monthly and timely contributions result in pension and retirement benefits, end-of-service gratuity and compensation in case of a work-related disability or death.
Private Sector Pensions
The UAE Cabinet announced in October 2023 an optional pension scheme to replace the end-of-service indemnities (EOSI) system for employees in the private sector and free zones.
Under the existing EOSI scheme, private sector employees, including migrant workers, receive directly from the employer a multiple of their final wage as lump sum at the end of their service.
As of November 2023, employers who opted for the new system are instead required to pay an equivalent monthly contribution into the new savings scheme. At the end of service, employees receive the accrued savings and investment returns from their participation in the investment fund.
The new system is optional for employers to join and is managed by private savings and investment funds overseen by the Securities and Commodities Authority in coordination with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
UAE tops Arab Region in Human Development
The UAE was ranked 1st in the Arab region and 17th globally in the 2023-2024 Human Development Report, which is published annually by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure for assessing long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living. The UAE's HDI value for 2021 reached 0.911, putting the country in the "Very High" human development category.
Since 1990, the UAE has made significant progress in all areas of social development. The UAE's HDI value rose from 0.728 to 0.911, an increase of 25.1%. Life expectancy at birth in the country rose by 6.8 years, mean years of schooling by 6.9 years and expected years of schooling by 5.2 years.
