Dubai – More than 9,854 factories and 282 companies operating in the construction sector are expected to participate in the second edition of the Taqdeer Award programme, officials said on Wednesday.
The award is given annually to firms who implement best global practices in safeguarding labour rights in their workplaces.
The award has been expanded to include companies in the free zones, according to Major-General Obaid Muhair Bin Surour, deputy director-general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai and chairman of Taqdeer Award.
The Chairman of the Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs (PCLA) in Dubai, Major General Obaid Mohair Bin Surour, and Deputy Director of the General Directorate for Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Taqdeer Award Chairman has announced the Taqdeer Award Program for the second time.
This year the award is to include private companies operating in the construction sector in the Free zones.
The award will ensure their rights are protected in accordance with international conventions and according to the highest local and international standards.
“We decided to expand the award this year to include workers and companies in the free zones. The award will include 9,854 factories and 282 construction companies all around Dubai. We expect the second edition of the award to be even more successful in enhancing the UAE’s regional and international reputation in the field of worker welfare,” Maj-Gen Bin Surour said.
He said there are nearly a million workers in the construction sector and the award will ensure their rights are protected in accordance with international conventions and according to the highest local and international standards.
“The award has received a lot of interest from overseas organisations that are keen on implementing the award in their countries,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Mohammed Al Zarouni, Chairman of World Free Zones Organisation, said the Dubai Free Zone authorities pay particular attention to the labour practices of foreign companies by encouraging them to follow the highest standards of safety and security to ensure the protection of workers’ rights and their well-being.
“The opportunity for free zone companies to participate in the Taqdeer Award encourages them to compete in providing maximum care and welfare to their labour workforce, and recognises those who follow world-class practices in safeguarding labour rights,” Dr Al Zarouni said.
According to recent statistics from the Dubai Statistics Centre, there are more than 338,000 workers in 34,000 companies in the free zones in Dubai. “This will make the award very competitive,” Dr Al Zarouni added.
In the first edition, the companies were recognised for adopting best practices for their work forces. They were selected based on Taqdeer points, which recognised excellence in labour welfare practices.
The Taqdeer Award, launched by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, in October 2016, is the first of its kind in the world that seeks to recognise companies for their labour policies and efforts so as to inspire them to improve their labour practices.
Maj-Gen Bin Surour expressed his gratitude to Shaikh Hamdan for his strong support and for launching this award with the aim to building fruitful and successful work partnerships between employers and employees; ensuring their respective rights; and motivating companies to strengthen the pillars of decent living for their workers, taking care of them and protecting their rights.
In the first edition of the award, participating companies were given a rating ranging from one to five stars by the judging committee, based on the number of points they received in an evaluation.
Earlier, Maj-Gen Bin Surour said that companies which received a high rating will now enjoy priority in government projects and will have a competitive advantage in bidding for international contracts.
The deadline for the companies to submit documents will be end of August and the results will be announced in November this year. – Gulf News
