Labour Laws

I am working at a geotechnical construction company here and am helping streamline their HR policy with UAE labor laws. Since all legal documents here are in Arabic, the translated packets can be confusing. The company essentially wants me to help create an organized 'new employee' packet which employees can easily read and understand.

My projects include reading the labor laws for the UAE, and I've also been assigned to reorganize the new employee manuals for Oman, Qattar and Saudi Arabia. 

Reading the UAE labor laws, or the 'labour" laws, has been really interesting. For example, the laws have special regulations for "Nationals" and "Non-nationals," considering that there is a huge flux of people coming and going to the UAE for business purposes, I understand how there is a need to specify rules between the two groups.

See below:

U.A.E. LABOUR LAW, FEDERAL LAW NO. (8) OF 1980

LABOUR LAW AND ITS AMENDMENTS

Chapter I

ARTICLE (9)

Work is a right of the United Arab Emirates Nationals. Others may not be employed in the United Arab Emirates except as provided for in this Law and its executive orders.

ARTICLE (10)

In the event of non-availability of national workers, preference shall be given to:

1. Arab workers who are nationals of an Arab Country.
2.   Workers of other nationalities.

This stratification of  preference of employment is important to note because it shows the government's preference and consideration in ensuring employment for its own people before passing on opportunities to foreigners.