The UAE Cabinet, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the adoption of a number of initiatives and legislations for the UAE during a meeting held at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The new laws and initiatives approved include legislation for the protection of worker’s rights; a child protection law; a strategy by the UAE Gender Balance Council to enhance the presence of women in leadership positions; a system in the UAE for crowdfunding platforms; a cooperatives law; a farming initiative; and a national strategy for nursing and midwifery professions.
The meeting was also attended by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
Protection of worker’s rights in the private sector
The UAE Cabinet approved a federal legislation with regard to work-related injuries and occupational diseases that could affect employees in the private sector.
The legislation specified the mechanism for reporting and investigating an injury, as well as the mechanism of compensating workers in the private sector. The law guarantees the rights of workers of the private sector.
The Cabinet also approved a decision to establish the “Collective Labour Disputes Committee”, chaired by Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
The committee will consider collective labour disputes referred by the Ministry in which the number of complainants exceeds 100 workers.
UAE Gender Balance Council Strategy 2022-2026
The Cabinet also approved the new strategy of the UAE Gender Balance Council 2022-2026, which includes 4 main pillars, including economic participation, well-being, protection, and entrepreneurship.
It aims to further reduce the gender gap across all sectors, enhance the UAE’s ranking in global competitiveness reports on gender equality, and achieve gender balance in decision-making positions, while promoting the UAE’s status as a benchmark for gender balance legislation.
UAE system for crowdfunding platform operators
The Cabinet also approved the UAE System for Crowdfunding Platform Operators, stressing that the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) will be responsible for the regulation governing the activities of crowdfunding platform operators.
The strategy covers all technical aspects associated with the regulation of crowdfunding platform operators.
This includes definitions; scope of application; operator licensing requirements; operator obligations towards SCA and investors; financing applicant obligations; and the rights of the investor, the operator, and the financing applicant.
The strategy also addresses supervision, inspections, and penalties.
Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology
The Cabinet also approved a decision to reorganise the Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (KCGEB), to be affiliated with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
The centre will have the legal authority, and financial and administrative autonomy required to achieve its goals.
The centre will specialise in developing and implementing research programmes in cooperation with federal and local authorities.
It will provide expert services and scientific advice to government entities and the private sector, and conduct studies and research.
The new cooperatives law and community farming initiative
The Cabinet adopted the new Cooperatives Law, which adopts the basic principles of cooperatives based on international standards.
It includes the establishment of new types of cooperatives, including digital, financial, professional and others, in addition to permitting the inclusion of cooperatives in the financial markets according to specified standards and conditions.
During the meeting, the Cabinet also approved the Community Farming initiative, which targets social welfare categories including widows, divorced women, elderly, and people of determination.
It aims to provide green houses with different spaces to the beneficiaries, in order to maintain food security and sustainability of resources, support family cohesion, and increase income.
A healthy learning environment for children
The Cabinet approved the National Child Protection Policy in educational institutions, which aims to ensure the safety of children, providing a healthy and safe educational environment to protect them from all forms of harm, and ensure the implementation of child protection measures in the educational institution in accordance with the legislation in force in the UAE.
During the meeting, the Cabinet also approved the National Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery professions.
The strategy aims to enhance the profession and its sustainability, and ensure proper planning of nursing and midwifery workforce in terms of recruitment and retention in response to the needs and priorities.
The strategy seeks to qualify the nursing and midwifery staff to engage in evidence-based research and practices that respond to national health priorities.
The strategy aids in the development of professional policies and practices, and invests in building the leadership capacity of nursing cadres especially during crises and emergencies.
Commenting on the new laws and initiatives, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said: “Today, I chaired the last Cabinet meeting at Expo Dubai 2020. Over the past six months, the cabinet meetings were held at the largest cultural exhibition in the world, reflecting our vision to support this international event, locally and globally.”
Sheikh Mohammed added: “We approved the new strategy of the UAE Gender Balance Council to enhance the presence of women in leadership positions, and a new system for work related injuries. Our aim to is to preserve the rights of workers and protect them.”
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