UAE to only amend existing labour law
Khaleej Times
UAE to only amend existing labour law
By Nada S. Mussallam
23 March 2005
ABU DHABI - The free trade agreement between the UAE and the US would enhance the movement of labour force between the two countries, said a senior labour official. Speaking to your favourite No. 1 newspaper Khaleej Times yesterday, Dr Khalid Mohammed Al Khazraji, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs expressed his optimism that the recent talks held with the US delegation in the capital on Free Trade Agreements (FTA), are boosting the movement of human capital between the two countries.
“Hopefully, the mutual agreements signed between the UAE and the US would further smoothen the flow of labour force in both the countries,” said Dr Khazraji. He denied reports that the country would be enacting a new labour law, stressing that the UAE Labour Law No. 8 of 1980 is undergoing several amendments. “We are not going to have a new labour law in the UAE. However, we have been embarking on introducing amendments to the existing law,” said Dr Khazraji.
He said the amendments are still under progress, and that “no date has yet been fixed to implement the amended version of the law. It is for the Labour Minister, Dr Ali Abdullah Al Kaabi, to decide when.”
The undersecretary denied any link between the amendments under way and proposals submitted by the US delegation. “It has nothing to do with the negotiations held with US officials. These amendments have been going since a considerable period of time now,” said Dr Khazraji.
