SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT - UAE Interact

S O C I A L D E V E L O P M E N T217As already indicated in the section on the Economy, initiativesthat would help realise these objectives include supporting federaland local nationalisation programmes; preparing national workforcedatabases; strengthening the Ministry of Labour’s inspection andmonitoring system; enacting regulations and legislation to limitillegal labour; adopting strict penalties to discourage the hiring ofillegal labour; developing the required minimum standards interms of health and safety at work and in living conditions.Overall, labour regulation is the responsibility of the federalMinistry of Labour, but several other federal and local entitiesplay an important part in assisting the ministry to achieve itsobjectives. These include at federal level the Ministry of Interior,Ministry of Justice and the Federal Courts, and at emirate level,the corresponding government departments as well as Chambersof Commerce and private companies.Abu Dhabi Executive Council Policy Agenda 2007/2008 declaresthat in carrying out the ethical, safe and efficient management oflabour resources within the emirate, at the same time ensuringan adequate and stable supply of labour to support continuedeconomic and social development, government and private sectorentities will pursue the following objectives: achieving fullemployment for UAE nationals in viable career tracks; adheringstrictly to federal labour law, as well as to all international labourobligations entered into by the UAE; eliminating completelydiscrimination in the workplace and any and all kinds ofexploitative or coercive labour practices, with particular focus onthe protection of women and minors; as well as the completeeradication of any form of trafficking in persons.The Abu Dhabi government is currently implementing plans toestablish a Department of Labour and Social Services to overseeimplementation of the policy.Oil 1.16%Agriculture 6.8%Mining & quarrying 0.2%Manufacturing 12.7%Electricity, gas & water 1.2%Construction 22.76%Wholesale & retail 18.2%Hotels 4.4%Transport, communication 6.1%Finance & insurance 1.3%Real estate 2.9%Government services 10%Social & personal services 4.3%Domestic & household services 7.9%Sectoral distribution of civilianemployment 2001–2006.NATIONAL EMPLOYMENTAt present the majority of UAE citizens in the workforce areworking in a public sector that has reached saturation point andis, therefore, incapable of absorbing the thousands (15,000 to20,000) of nationals entering the job market each year. At the@www.uaeinteract.com/employment