The Abu Dhabi Labour Court has adopted developing procedures and new mechanisms to ensure the settlement and delivery of workers’ entitlements in a timely manner through simple and practical steps, including the opening of an office for the insurance company covering workers in the private sector at the Labour Court headquarters, which is instrumental in the speedy payment of financial dues in accordance with established statutory controls.
His Excellency Yousef Saeed Alabri, Undersecretary of Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), stated that Abu Dhabi courts adopt a sustainable development approach in all judicial proceedings, beginning with the registration of the case, through remote hearings, to the enforcement of the court decisions and the securing of each litigant’s rights as guaranteed by the laws of the country, so that justice be achieved and the rule of law prevails.
The new mechanism, Mr. Alabri said, aims to facilitate access to an accomplished justice, following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Presidential Court and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, to develop a pioneering judicial system that keeps pace with developments and new legislation, in a manner that supports the government’s drive to improve competitiveness and support the business and investment environment in the country.
He praised the constructive cooperation with the Judicial Department’s strategic partners, and the role it assumes in ensuring the sustainability and continuity of activities in all judicial and enforcement processes, in line with the priorities set out in the Strategic Plan 2021-2023, which emphasises the importance of interdependence of all processes and the measurement of their effectiveness, starting with basic inputs and ending with final outcomes.
It should be noted that Ministerial Decision No. 318 of 2022 on Bank Guarantees and Employee Protection Insurance scheme for private sector workers offers establishments two options, the first is to provide a bank guarantee worth not less than 3,000 dirhams for each worker, through a bank operating in the country, provided that the guarantee is valid for one year, automatically renewed, and paid at the request of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, without any other restrictions.
The second option entails a 30-month insurance policy, at a value of AED137.50 for each skilled worker, AED180 for each low-skilled worker and AED250 for each worker paid by high-risk establishments that are not registered with the Wages Protection System (WPS).
The insurance coverage amounts to 20,000 dirhams and includes the wages of the worker’s last 120 working days, the end-of-service gratuity, the expenses of returning the worker to their home country and other labour rights and entitlements that the employer fails to meet, on the basis of a decision issued by the competent ministry or the competent labour court.
