The expatriate labour force in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has long been an issue of concern to all ministers in the region for various reasons.
Besides addressing the imbalance in population growth, in some cases outnumbering the indigenous population, there are also the matters of internal security and the overall treatment of expatriates by their employers.
It is true that there are still employers who abuse their workers, usually those who are illiterate or semi-literate and therefore are unaware of their rights in such matters. And it is these abuses that GCC Labour Ministers, with particular emphasis on prompt payment of due salaries, working hours and holiday entitlement.
With labourers there also arises the issue of accommodation and meals, where employers are expected to provide reasonable lodging and sustenance. Because of shortfalls in what some in the private sector provide, it has been necessary to introduce many labour inspectors who have the right to fine companies that do not fulfil their contractual obligations.
A two-day conference has been held in Abu Dhabi with ministers from 20 Asian countries attending, with the specific purpose of addressing ways to better the management of temporary contractual labour.
After discussion, the ministers adopted the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, which aims to set guidelines for those ministries dealing with the export or import of manual labour.
As a starting point, it is significant, and serves to highlight the many issues that need to be resolved and, perhaps just as important, are fluid and in need of constant appraisal and verification of their relevance.
Perhaps in the forefront of change in regard to expatriate labour has been, and still is, the UAE, with its constant and ongoing assessments needed for the benefit of the country and the expatriate. It is such concern that continues to keep the UAE ahead in regard to labour relations.
