Cabinet clears MoU with UAE on manpower

New Delhi, Apr 12 (UNI) The Union Cabinet today formally approved the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) signed with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the field of manpower.

The MoU was signed on December 13 year last during the visit of the UAE Labour Minister Dr. Ali Bin Abdulla Al-Kaabi to India.

Though India has bilateral labour agreements with Qatar and Jordan, there was no such bilateral arrangement with the UAE so far, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told mediapersons after the cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

" A bilateral agreement or MoU is especially important in the case of countries like the UAE since the local labour laws do not cover the workers in the informal sector," he said, adding that the Cabinet's decision would benefit the Indian workers especially the un-skilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers.

The MoU will be valid for four years and it will automatically extend by another four years each time thereafter unless either of the parties notifies its intention to terminate it.

The salient features of the MoU include : Facilitation of manpower recruitment and mutual sharing of information and experience, recruitment to be in conformity with the laws of both countries and all categories of workers to have the protection of UAE labour law regulation.

Under the MoU, terms and conditions of employment contract should be in conformity with the work permit that the employer obtains from the UAE Government. All contracts to be authenticated by UAE Labour Ministry and the employer would have no authority to change the contract conditions.

A Joint Committee consisting of three members from each country willll be responsible for the implementation of the MoU and will have the mandate to review employment opportunities in the UAE and availability of corresponding skills in India, to coordinate between the two States in the implementation of this memorandum of understanding and to take necessary action in this regard.

UNI