Bill limits working hours for domestic workers and gives them a day off each week

  ABU DHABI – The Federal National Council (FNC) yesterday passed a bill that gives domestic workers a day off each week and 30 days of paid leave yearly, among other benefits, and orders the setting up of new training centers to replace recruitment agencies. The rules were made by the FNC to avoid disputes over work conditions and hours and day off that usually end up with the police or court getting involved in the matter. The bill was passed after a six-hour debate among FNC members that lasted until 2:30 a.m. yesterday. The draft law needs to be approved by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan before it takes effect. Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, minister of human resources and emiratisation, told the council that the bill is meant to regulate the domestic worker industry in line with international standards. On the other hand, Azza Sulaiman, chairwoman of the FNC Human Resources Committee, said the new rules would make the UAE's domestic workers' laws align with the International Labor Organization's Convention 189 and Recommendation 201 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. The bill requires that placement agencies have to make sure that domestic workers are informed of the terms and conditions of their employment such as the nature of work, workplace, remuneration and the period of daily and weekly rest. Ghobash said new centers called Tadbeer, which will replace domestic worker recruitment agencies at the end of the year, will conduct orientation and training for the workers, adding that 65 private companies applied to operate the Tadbeer, whose services will be mandated and regulated by the ministry. The rules contained in the bill are: *A domestic worker should be at least 18 years old. *One day weekly to be spent however the employee chooses. *at least 12 hours off-duty a day, including eight consecutive hours; and *30 days of paid annual leave. *Domestic workers must be extended rights to equality and non-discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, political opinion or national or social sect. Violators face either a prison term or a fine. The proposed law identifies new professions under the domestic helpers' category (only for households, not companies) as: housemaid, private sailor, watchman and security guard, household shepherd, family chauffeur, household horse groomer, household falcon carer and trainer, domestic labourer, housekeeper, private coach, private teacher, babysitter, household farmer, private nurse, private PRO and private agriculture engineer. 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