Khaleej Times, it may be recalled, in an exclusive news item published on May 31, 2002, reported that "The UAE is initiating measures to allow formation of workers' organisations in the country" and that the Labour Ministry, following discussions with the International Labour Organisation, intended to significantly amend the Labour Law No 8 of 1980 accordingly.

Under the new labour law amendment proposals, it is expected that while the workers will be permitted to form unions and have worker representation through workers' organisations, these unions will function in a manner similar to those of non-profitable societies, according to Labour Ministry sources.

Interestingly, the draft reportedly includes a clause, which regulates and legalises peaceful protests by workers. The new regulation will permit a recognised representative of the protesters to talk to and deal with the authorities concerned, so that the latter can get a clear idea of the demands of any protesting workers and address the problem accordingly.

Meanwhile, the Minister, while speaking to a section of the press, categorically rejected as "insane and illogical" the allegations contained in a recent US-based Human Rights Watch report which suggested the UAE government was turning "a blind eye" to the basic rights of (mainly foreign migrant) workers and labourers in the country. The HRW report also claimed that “one of the world’s largest construction booms” was “feeding off of workers in Dubai, but they’re treated as less than human.”  The rights group said migrants comprise around 90 percent of the 1.7 million eork force in the Emirates.

Commenting strongly on the totally unsubstantiated charges in the HRW report, Al Kabbi, was quoted as saying "to link what happened (protests) to the construction boom in the country - which represents a sign of progress in the region is "devious, illogical and insane."

For instance, the HRW report cited low pay, failure to pay wages and “as many as 880 deaths... at construction sites in 2004.” But government figures show that only 34 people died on construction sites in 2004.

Al Kaabi also dismissed a public protest last week at the site of what will be the world’s tallest skyscraper as a protest in which workers “were not demanding their rights.” Around 2,500 mostly Asian workers at the site of the prestigious Burj Dubai project, according to a news reports, had protested over pay and work conditions. Some turned violent, smashing cars and offices causing damage estimated at one million dollars.

The demonstration then sparked a strike on a construction site where workers are enlarging Dubai’s international airport.

Al Kaabi said, "It has been proven that the companies concerned completely respect their commitments and their contracts” with workers.

However, the Minister added, “We are not saying that infractions do not exist. There surely are some and we deal with them as necessary according to the law and with respect to human rights."

“But to forget the positives and concentrate on infractions while ignoring the efforts made to fix them is unjust and arbitrary,” Kaabi protested justifiably.

Labour Ministry sources said yesterday that once the labour laws of the country are amended, "Labourers in different sectors will be able to discuss and debate their work-related problems, suggest solutions and proposals to enhance their performance, and also highlight issues related to their financial security and general work conditions."

It has taken about seven years to prepare these major Labour Law draft amendments. The former minister of Labour Matar Humaid Al Tayer, in the late 90s, had initially drafted these amendments in coordination with the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the International Labour Organisaiton, and the Arab Labour Organisation. Al Tayer had then also forwarded the amendment draft to the Legislation Committee of the Ministry of Justice.

Barely a few days after joining the Labour Ministry on November 11 2004, Al Ka'abi ordered a much-needed review of the proposed amendments in the Labour Law, "in light of the recent changes and developments witnessed in the labour market in the UAE.", according to ministry sources.

Al Kaabi will now discuss the draft amendment proposals with officials from the apex Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Economic Departments in the country, before making his own notings and forwarding it to the Federal Cabinet for its approval and sanction, before the start of the summer vacation. — Additional inputs from agencies