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Diana T Fritz  03/20/2007 05:26:51 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

Cable 
Text:                                                                      
                                                                           
      
UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM                                       September 17, 2003


To:       No Action Addressee                                    

Action:   Unknown                                                

From:     AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 4253 - ROUTINE)         

TAGS:     ELAB, PREL, PHUM, PGOV, SOCI, CVIS                     

Captions: None                                                   

Subject:  EXPATRIATES TO GET ACCESS TO NATIONAL LABOR UNION IN   
          THE UAE                                                

Ref:      None                                                   
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS        ABU DHABI 04253

SIPDIS
CXABU:
    ACTION: ECON 
    INFO:   P/M AMB DCM POL 
Laser1:
    INFO:   FCS 

DISSEMINATION: ECON
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: DCM: RAALBRIGHT
DRAFTED: ECON: GARANA
CLEARED: ECON: OBJOHN

VZCZCADI701
RR RUEHC RUCPDOC RUEHZM
DE RUEHAD #4253 2600921
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170921Z SEP 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1748
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004253 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL AND EB/CBA 
STATE PASS OPIC/OPIC INTERNATIONAL POLICY DEPARTMENT 
FOR VIRGINIA GREEN AND CONSTANCE SHINN 
USDOC FOR 4530/ITA/MAC/ONE/DGUGLIELMI, 
4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU, 
4500/ITA/MAC/DAS/WILLIAMSON, 
3131/CS/OIO/ANESA 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB PREL PHUM PGOV SOCI CVIS
GTIP, TC 
SUBJECT: EXPATRIATES TO GET ACCESS TO NATIONAL LABOR 
UNION IN THE UAE 
 
¶1. (U) Local press reported that the UAE Ministry of 
Labor and Social Affairs has drafted a law that will 
establish a national labor union which expatriates 
will have access to via their own representatives. The 
UAEG will likely enact the law in 2004, after the 
Federal Cabinet and the President approve the 
proposal. Labor Ministry Undersecretary Khaled Al- 
Khazraji remarked that, "Through this union, 
expatriate workers can carry out their activities 
through their own committees and groups covering each 
profession and area."  He added that the creation of 
the labor union was in response to a number of "global 
bodies, including the International Labour 
Organization, to create [a] suitable umbrella for the 
workers to represent themselves and express their own 
views." [Note: The draft law restricts full labor 
union membership to UAE nationals in the public and 
private sectors. End note.] 
 
¶2. (SBU) Comment: This is the first time UAEG 
officials have announced publicly that they will 
permit the creation of a labor union and, more 
importantly, that expatriates will have access to it 
indicating there is sufficient determination and clout 
to enact this proposal. The Filipino and Indian labor 
attaches told Econoff that since expatriates 
constitute a majority of the public and private sector 
employees, having access to a labor union will better 
protect their rights. We will continue to monitor the 
movement of the legislation and report any further 
developments. End comment. 
 
Wahba