Ghobash discusses labour market policies with Lankan counterpart

Geneva / WAM

Saqr Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, discussed on Thursday with Sri Lankan State Minister of Labour and Trade Unions Relations, Hon. Ravindra Samaraweera, cooperation and ways to strengthen it,
especially in the areas of labour.
The two ministers met on the sidelines of the 105th session of the International Labour Conference currently being held in Geneva with the participation of the UAE. They discussed in the presence of officials from both sides, ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of labour.
Ghobash reviewed the new policies implemented by the UAE earlier this year, stressing that those policies strengthen protection of workers’ rights through contractual labour cycle based on consent to contract terms, privileges and work conditions before workers come to the UAE. He added that this prevents replacement of contracts and enhances transparency between the two parties.
The Sri Lankan minister praised those policies, describing them as pioneer initiative to protect workers’ rights during the period of their presence in the state.
The meeting also tackled the Abu Dhabi Dialogue for labour-sending and labour-receiving countries, with emphasis on the importance of enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the labour sending and receiving states to identify best practices and promote the benefits of the movement of temporary contractual labour.
The Sri Lankan minister stressed keenness on supporting the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, and expressed the readiness of his country to preside over the next session of the dialogue, and to host Consultative Ministerial Meeting to be held in Sri Lanka in January next year.
It was agreed to continue the next preparatory meetings of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue between the stakeholders on both sides.