Fast-track dispute centre to resolve labour issues in UAE

Employers and employees will be able to file complaints through a toll-free labour dispute hotline 80060.- Alamy Image

Dubai - Once a complaint is registered, the centre will try to mediate between the two parties within 48 hours.

A first-of-its-kind centre to resolve labour disputes, named Tawafuq centre, was inaugurated at Ras Al Khor in Dubai by Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), on Thursday.
A toll-free labour dispute hotline (80060) was launched during the opening of the service centre. Employers and employees will be able to file complaints via the hotline. Once a complaint is registered, the centre will try to mediate between the two parties within 48 hours.
If the complaint is to be taken forward, it will be referred to the Tawafuq centre to be examined by legal counsellors in the presence of both the parties.  If still the issue remains unsolved, the complaint will be referred to the competent courts.
Tawafuq centres will be able to settle labour issues in a maximum of 10 working days. "Opening the centre falls in line with the ministry's strategic plan to outsource the services to the private sector. This will give the ministry more space to focus its efforts on chalking out and enhancing policies of the labour market," said Al Hamli.
The centre, he said, will have no extreme power to take a final decision on the complaint and the complaint will be referred to the court. The centre will be open daily except Fridays from 8am to 8pm. The waiting time has been set at 3-10 minutes with the service is provided in 30 minutes. Three languages will be available in the centre - Arabic, English and Urdu. A translation service to other languages is also available.
As many as 10 additional Tawafuq centres will be rolled out across all the emirates soon in addition to Al Ain, Khor Fakkan, Kalba and Dhafra.

How the service centre will help