The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced labour reforms to be enforced from January 1 that aim to curb abuse and protect the rights of millions of foreign workers.
“We want to close the door on those who trick the simple worker,” Emirati Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash told a press conference in Abu Dhabi today.
The new measures, which will remove practices associated with a sponsorship system known as “kafala” will allow foreign workers to terminate their contract and change employer.
The kafala system not only regulates entry and residence, but also requires that workers seek permission from employers to change jobs.
Ghobash said that from January 2016, the UAE would take steps which, when completed, would get rid of “all the practices that were associated with kafala.”
He stated that under a new system, in which workers’ contracts would be lodged with the labour ministry rather than with employers, who currently hold the documents, “involuntary labour” would be prevented.
“The worker cannot, under any circumstances, be made to, or otherwise be compelled, to remain in an employment relation,” a ministry statement stated.