Global framework for migrant labour
The first steps towards drawing up a global framework for the
administration of migrant labour were taken yesterday at a conference in
the capital.
The steps were taken at the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, a ministerial-level
meeting of manpower receiving and supplying countries.
More than 200 delegates from 22 countries - 11 senders and 11
receivers - are attending the event at Emirates Palace hotel. The
countries represented range from the US to China. The talks will end
today with a meeting chaired by UAE Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin
Abdullah Al Kaabi and the release of a set of recommendations made by
the 22 ministers.
Al Kaabi said the meeting represented a historic opportunity to
facilitate the creation of a partnership to promote multilateral
co-operation on contractual labour.
"Over the past two years our ministry has signed a number of
bilateral protocols, which lay the foundation for an efficient and
equitable administration of contractual labour in the UAE. We look
forward to a consensus on the general principles of a future
multilateral framework of co-operation to emerge from our meeting in Abu
Dhabi."
Yesterday's session, chaired by assistant under-secretary Yousuf
Abdul Ghani, considered a range of issues concerning the use of
contractual labour and workers' welfare. Ghani said the meeting will
recommend holding similar talks every two years.
About 13 million expatriate workers make up 70 per cent of the
workforce of the six GCC countries, according to available figures. They
remit $27 billion (Dh99bn) home each year. According to the World Bank,
the global figure for remittances in 2006 was US$ 200 bn.
Jean-Philippe Chauzy, spokesman for the International Organisation
for Migration (IOM), which is co-hosting the meeting with the ministry,
said Indian expatriates around the world alone remitted $26bn in 2006.
He added: "Fifteen per cent of this total was remitted from the six
GCC countries. Between 30 and 35 per cent of worldwide remittances to
India were sent through improper channels, such as hawala, which
indicates a need for improved banking services."
However, the weakening dollar, to which the dirham is pegged, and the
growing strength of currencies in Asian countries is becoming a growing
concern. Both skilled and unskilled workers from countries such India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are discovering that the value of the
money they send home is falling each year.
Sri Lankan Ambassador Mohammed Nabvi Junaid said remittances make up
a substantial proportion of his country's economy. |
