Workers learn about laws and rights in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi - The awareness lectures are aimed at providing legal knowledge to 100,000 workers as part of the Year of Zayed.

More than 500 workers in Abu Dhabi have been taught about their legal rights and protection from mistreatment at work.

The awareness lectures, organised by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), for the workers at Saadiyat Island's labour village taught them about their rights, the UAE laws and the need to abide by these laws.

The educational lecture, which was presented in Arabic, English and Urdu, also threw light on the provisions of the UAE labour law, which guarantee workers' rights and defines the relationship with their employers.

The awareness lectures that have been conducted in various workers' accommodation since January are aimed at providing legal knowledge to 100,000 workers across Abu Dhabi as part of the Year of Zayed.

Yousef Saed Al Ebri, undersecretary of the ADJD, said the legal awareness programme is aimed at spreading legal culture among workers.

The campaign is also under the directives of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Chairman of the ADJD, to achieve the strategic priority of promoting and maintaining security through sustainable engagement with all members of the community.

"The labour awareness committee in the judicial department aims to strengthen the legal culture and the definition of workers' rights and duties, as part of the efforts to achieve its mission to safeguard the rule of law by ensuring justice, rights and peace in the society," said Al Ebri.

Ahmed Al Marzouqi, director of internal operations and support sector and chairman of the labour awareness committee at the ADJD, said the campaign involves weekly visits to labour sites in Abu Dhabi in cooperation with the Zones Corp, organising educational lectures and the distribution of awareness leaflets.

"During the campaigns, workers are being educated about the importance of abiding by the law, the rights of workers in the UAE including their rights to annual leaves, getting salaries in time, how to file complaints against their employers, the right to end of service benefits and how to calculate it and others. Officials also answer all questions and queries from workers," said Al Mazrouqi.

The campaign also comprises of interactive oral question competitions for workers and giving out awards to the participants to ensure proper interaction and achieving the goal spreading legal awareness message in an appropriate manner.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com