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The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs has urged expatriate workers to report to the Ministry in case of any violation or abuse of their rights guaranteed by the labour law.
The Labour Relations Department at the Ministry has launched an online awareness campaign to raise awareness among the workers about their rights and duties under the new labour law.
Workers can lodge job-related complaints online or by visiting the Ministry’s headquarters or its branch in the Industrial Area Street No 13, the Ministry said on its Twitter account yesterday.
The worker needs to fill in a special from for complaints, sign it, attach a copy of his ID and submit it to the employee concerned at the Ministry’s office.
The employee will first check whether the complaint is within the jurisdiction of the Ministry or not.
If the complaint is lodged online then the Labour Relations Department will send an SMS to the representative of the company requesting him/her to attend to the Ministry’s office and a copy of the request is also sent to the complainant.
The complaint is always discussed in the presence of the two parties ( employee and the employer) and if not settled amicably it can be referred for further investigation or transferred to the competent court with approval from the head of the dispute settlement section at the Ministry.
The Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs H E Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi disclosed last December that the Ministry has installed 11 self service machines operating in 11 languages in government services complexes to help workers file complaints against their employers, in addition to a hotline operating round-the-clock.
He said that the Ministry has plans to increase the number of these machines to 100 that will be installed in labour camps.
The Ministry in its tweet explained that under the labour law, employees are entitled to get two weeks sick leave every year with full payment and the next four weeks with half salary.
Sick leave must be approved by a doctor
If the sick leave is extended to more than six weeks it is considered unpaid leave until he resumes work, resign or be terminated on health grounds. However, the sick leave must be approved by an authorised doctor and the employer.
In case of a worksite accident, the law stipulates that the worker shall receive full wage during treatment or the period of six months whichever is shorter.
He is entitled to receive proper medical treatment at the cost of the employer in accordance with the decision of the competent medical authority.
The Ministry has asked all companies to submit the employee a copy of the job contract which must be certified by the competent department at the ministry.
Workers have been advised to do the work agreed on with honesty and dedication, not to disclose trade secrets of the company and respect the laws of the country and local customs.
The Ministry has urged expatriate workers not to engage in paid or not paid work with other employers without a written approval from the original employer.
