Government Initiative: Dh261m in Unpaid Wages Delivered to Workers' Doorsteps
Government Initiative: Dh261m in Unpaid Wages Delivered to Workers' Doorsteps: In a commendable effort by the government, more than 23,000 laborers, who were owed a total of Dh261 million in unpaid wages, had their dues delivered to their doorstep this year. These cases were successfully resolved through Abu Dhabi's mobile labor court, with the workers having filed their complaints between January and June.
An illustrative case occurred in February when the mobile court intervened, facilitating the amicable resolution of a dispute involving over 700 workers from a catering company. Subsequently, the workers received Dh26 million in unpaid salaries.
Government officials collaborated with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre) to resolve a year-long dispute between workers and their employer over remuneration. This involved various professionals, including waiters, cooks, administrators, and drivers, who had endured months without wages due to the company's financial struggles.
In June, a new mechanism launched by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department allowed 733 workers without bank accounts to receive their outstanding pay directly at their accommodations, eliminating the need to visit courts.
According to court records, a total of Dh577 million in unpaid wages has been distributed to 53,000 workers from January 2019 to June 2020.
Authorities emphasized the implementation of several measures over the years to ensure prompt payment of unpaid wages to workers. The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department introduced initiatives such as a one-day court established in 2018 and a mobile court that visits workers' accommodations to swiftly resolve disputes with employers.
Utilizing the mobile bus court, a dedicated team from the labor court and officials from Mohre visit workers' accommodations. The intervention takes place when workers file complaints about prolonged periods without salaries, and the labor court team ensures immediate payment of pending salaries. To facilitate this, officials liquidate the company's bank guarantee, using the funds to pay workers' dues and provide return tickets for those opting to go home.
Abdulla Faris Al Nuaimi, the head of the Abu Dhabi Labour Court, emphasized the UAE's commitment to preserving workers' rights and ensuring their protection under the rule of law through a sophisticated judicial system. Al Nuaimi highlighted a decrease in labor disputes filed in court during the Covid-19 crisis, attributing this to increased amicable settlements between workers and employers facilitated by Mohre.
Looking ahead, Al Nuaimi expressed the labor court's willingness to collaborate with charitable organizations in the country to provide financial support to workers, particularly those whose salaries remain unpaid by their employers. While discussions are ongoing with entities like the Zakat Fund and the Zayed Foundation, Al Nuaimi acknowledged the historical support provided by charitable bodies in individual cases, including assistance with travel tickets and health insurance for affected workers.