GCC nations mull common vision for running domestic workers system

Cairo - "To ensure the application of fair and transparent recruitment practices that could address any negative practices."

Five Gulf countries held a meeting in Cairo to discuss means of developing cooperation with a purpose of outlining a common vision to run the file or system of domestic workers during all stages of the temporary contractual work cycle, on the sidelines of the 45th session of the Arab Labour Conference.
Present at the meeting were Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, a number of ministers and officials in the GCC countries.
During the meeting held at the invitation of the UAE in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, Al Hamli emphasised the keenness of GCC labour ministers on coordination in various files related to the Gulf labour market, including the file of domestic workers, as part of the Joint Gulf Action.
"The domestic workers constitute an important part of the temporary employment in the Gulf countries, which are keen on protecting the labour rights, through applicable laws and practices in the GCC countries in the light of a number of challenges that require developing coordination among the ministries concerned with running and organising the file of domestic workers and thereby contributing to face such challenges jointly," Al Hamli said.
"The GCC governments are keen on developing partnership with the governments of the labour-exporting countries, particularly through Abu Dhabi Dialogue, out of their shared responsibility to ensure the application of fair and transparent recruitment practices that could address any negative practices, which the workers may suffer from in their homelands before working in the Gulf countries," he added.
The Minister voiced confidence for concluding a unified Gulf vision, which is able to deal with the file of domestic workers, in a manner that enhances the national legislation and practices, fulfils the aspirations of employers, and restricts any negative practices that may take place during any stage of the contractual work cycle.
The participants reviewed the national laws regulating the work of domestic workers and practices of recruitment agencies working in the GCC countries and in the labour sending countries along with discussing the costs of recruitment.
They also reviewed GCC experiences in the field of domestic workers, including Tadbeer service centres in the UAE and Musaned programme in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
At the end of the meeting, the participants decided to form a technical team to put forward proposals that could outline a common Gulf vision in the file of domestic workers and submit recommendation to be considered in a future meeting.

• MENA