Al Hamli: “UAE implements qualitative policies to enhance its position in empowering Emirati citizens and attracting competencies”

Today (Monday), in Dubai, the meetings of senior officials in the relevant authorities about the work files of the member states in Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) are launched. They are scheduled to hold a forum to discuss the future of work and its challenges.

Today (Monday), in Dubai, the meetings of senior officials in the relevant authorities about the work files of the member states in Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) are launched. They are scheduled to hold a forum to discuss the future of work and its challenges.

The ADD, launched under the UAE initiative in 2008, is a voluntary government pathway that provides a platform for dialogue between the receiving and sending states of contractual labour in the Asian region, with the aim of identifying the best practices for the mobility of temporary contractual labour between these states and promoting the mutual development benefits.

His Excellency, Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of MOHRE, said, "The UAE is applying a package of qualitative policies and programs related to the future of work and employment, which aim at empowering Emirati citizens and attracting competencies, most notably the programs that aim at providing the Emirati citizen with the skills that meet the needs and requirements of the future labour market; in line with the National Employment Strategy (NES) that targets enhancing building the national capacities until 2031".

"The UAE is making the future of work by investing in new & sustainable economic sectors and applying a range of measures to attract and recruit the highly-skilled workers, thereby enhancing the position of the UAE as an attraction zone for such labour across the world”, he said in his opening speech at The Future of work Forum.

He stressed that The keenness to continue supporting the “ADD”, which has become one of the most significant international pathways on work issues, emphasizing the importance of developing partnerships under the auspices of "The Dialogue", which contributes to dealing with the challenges of the future of work.

Chulananda Perera, Secretary, Ministry of Telecommunications, Foreign Employment and Sports, Government of Sri Lanka and Chair-in-Office of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, praised the efforts made by the UAE to host this important meeting, stressing the importance of the exchanges during the discussions, which contribute to addressing the related challenges. 

“Future of Work” forum at Abu Dhabi Dialogue was held for three working sessions, where Sangheon Lee, Director, Employment Policy Department, International Labour Organization (ILO), reviewed, in the first session, the main findings of the Global Commission on the Future of Work, particularly with regard to the development of the human element as a pillar of economic and social development. "It is important for the Abu Dhabi Dialogue’s member states to focus on joint work in moving towards a better future of work that is more sustainable and ready to face any challenges”, Lee added.  

He shed light on the importance of working towards strengthening the capabilities of the individuals and enabling them to adapt to the transformations and changes in the future labour market; which include investing in their skills and providing them with social protection.

The second session called for integrating the pillars of investment in the skills, labour institutions and the national policies of the states, while the third session, presented by Miss Michelle Leighton, Chief of the Labour Migration Branch for the International Labour Organization, reviewed the ways of collaborating on the future of work field within the Abu Dhabi Dialogue’s agenda on the issue of the “Governance of Labour Mobility”.