The National Program to Support the Stability of the Labour Market

Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), in coordination with National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) launched the ‘National Program to Support the Stability of the Labor Market in the Private Sector’ to ensure the continuity of the performance of businesses in light of the series of preventive and precautionary measures taken to curb the spread of COVID-19 at the national level.

The programme includes a package of measures to support employers and workers whether nationals or expatriate residents in the private sector. It also includes a set of precautionary measures to protect workers in the private sector from contracting infection in the course of their work.

Support the stability of UAE nationals

MoHRE formed a special committee to look into the complaints of nationals working in the private sector and follow their conditions in coordination with the relevant federal and local government authorities. The ministry made a plan to:

• develop supportive bundles to ensure keeping the already recruited Emiratis in the labour market
• supervise and monitor the full application of the Ministerial Decree No. 212 of 2018 Regulating the Employment of Nationals in the Private Sector (PDF, 150 KB) which aims to empower citizens in the private sector and provide a stable work environment for them.
• evaluate cases of job termination between employers and the Emirati employees at Tawteen Customer Happiness Centres
• present recommendations on cases of job termination of Emiratis in the private sector and suggest supportive bundles to ensure that the employee retains his current job or avail another opportunity with another employer.

Lifting restrictions on violating companies and workers

Under the programme, MoHRE lifted all restrictions applied to all establishments registered with the ministry, thus enabling them to:

• get new internal work permits and renew existing work permits despite violations registered in the company’s record with the ministry
• get a refund of the bank guarantee immediately upon renewing a work permit for an employee
• issue new internal work permits for professions of the third skill level without the requirement of the scientific certificate.

   

  The support packages offered to workers include lifting all restrictions that led to them being refused new work permits, except in the following two situations:

• when it is proven that the worker violated the procedures of terminating an employment contract
• when there is a complaint registered against the worker showing that he quit attending work.

The ministry encouraged job seekers to use the virtual job market to upload their CVs and companies to announce vacancies.

Issuing a resolution to regulate employer-employee relationships in the private sector

MoHRE issued the ‘Ministerial Resolution No. 279 of 2020 Regarding the Stability of Employment in Private Sector Companies, During the Period of Applying Precautionary Measures to Contain the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus.’ The resolution aims to protect the interests of expatriate employees working in the private sector during the period in which precautionary measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 are being undertaken by the UAE government. It also provides a guidance to companies affected by COVID-19 on how to restructure their contractual relationship with employees mutually.

 Read more about the Ministerial Resolution No. 279 of 2020.

Implementing remote working system in the private sector

MoHRE implemented  the remote work system in the private sector companies to limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect the labour force in the UAE. It also prepared a set of guidelines for the private sector to follow during this time. Read more on the remote working system in the private sector and protection of labour.