labor in Dubai
...ditions in the host country and this situation changes due to various developments, he said.The estimated Filipino workforce in the country is around 160,000. Dubai’s business community maintains that it has seen recessions come and go, and that there is no reason for panic. The ruling Maktoum family and the city’s economic planners have seen the future, and it works, according to industry leaders. There are tentative signs that the emirate has weathered the oil-price drop of the past two years, although the after-effects are likely to be felt for a while to come. Crucial to recovery has been Dubai’s reduced reliance on oil revenues, especially compared to neighboring Abu Dhabi, which is the federal capital of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai produces 250,000 barrels of oil per day (b/pd), about a tenth of the UAE’s total output of 2 million b/pd, the bulk of which is produced by Abu Dhabi. Duabi’s drive to develop alternative sources of revenue – such as trade, industry and tourism – began in the 1980s under the late ruler, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al-Maktoum, and has continued uninterrupted ever since. Diversity pays. Progress has been made but, says Mohammad Alabbar, head of the Dubai Department of Economic Development, the job of diversifying income sources is far from complete. Industrial production constitutes 9.5 percent of Dubai’s gross domestic product (GDP), a figure that analysts say can be increased to 15-18 percent by tapping just a fraction of the $200 billion held by UAE companies in overseas investments. Internationally, Dubai has become famous for the annual Shopping Festival, the month-long retail extravaganza held from March to April, supported by cash-rich corporations and boosted by blanket coverage on local and pan-Arab satellite television stations. However, recent experience has made plain the urgency of diversification beyond oil, trade and tourism. The Asian currency crisis and the collapse of the Russian ruble hurt Dubai far more than the oil-price slump. Indeed, Dubai’s commercial base has still not recovered since the number of visitors from the former Soviet Union took a nose-dive in 1997. Although many blamed the influx of Russian shoppers for a deterioration of social standards, there is no denying that they accounted for a significant percentage of Dubai’s external trade. Administered by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Labour Law in the UAE is loosely based on the International Labour Organization's model. UAE Law No. 8 of 1980, as amended by Law No. 12 of 1986 governs most aspects of employer/employee relations, such as hours of work, leave, termination rights, medical benefits and repatriation. The Labour Law is protective of employees in general and overrides conflicting contractual provisions agreed under another jurisdiction, unless they are beneficial to the employee. The Ministry issues a model form of labour contract in Arabic which is widely used, but other forms of contract are enforceable, provided they comply with the Labour Law. End of contract gratuities are set at 21 days pay for every year of the first five years of service and 30 days for every year thereafter. Total gratuity should not exceed two years' wages. Employees are entitled to pro-rated amounts for service periods less than a full year, provided they have completed one year in continuous service. Trade unions do not exist. In the case of a dispute between employer and employee, or in interpretation of the Labour Law, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs will initially act as an adjudicator, in an effort to resolve matters. If a party wishes to appeal any such decision it can take its case to court. Strikes and lock outs are forbidden. The normal maximum working hours are eight per day or 48 per week. However, these hours may be increased to nine daily for people working in the retail trade, hotels, restaurants and other such establishments. Similarly, daily working hours may be reduced for difficult or dangerous jobs. Many businesses work on a two shift system (for example, 8am - 1pm and 4pm - 7pm). As in all Muslim countries, Friday is the weekly day of rest. In practice, commercial and professional firms work 40-45 hours a week and government ministries about 35. The weekend for office workers has traditionally been Thursday afternoon and Friday, but a number of organizations have changed over to a five day week with Friday and Saturday as the weekend. During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, normal working hours are reduced by two hours per day. There are 10 days of public holidays (paid) in any year. The employee's annual leave is two days for every month if his service is more than six months and less than a year. In every completed year of service after the first, an employee is entitled to 30 days annual paid leave. This is in addition to public holidays, maternity leave for women and sick leave. Overtime is used extensively and additional pay is required for manual and lower ranking staff. II. SWOT Analysis: The labor force structure as well as the laws ratified in this context strengthen and work structure in Dubai and the following analysis provides more details: Strength • Foreign workers and thus foreign investments • Equal Opportunity of work and thus competition and efficiency • Increase of GDP • Better productivity • Lower costs and mo...