In 2019, The Sharjah Consultative Council approved recommendations calling for supporting the Labour Standards Development Authority in Sharjah and its vital role in helping provide the best services and apply the highest labour standards. The Council called for supporting LSDA in providing an attractive work environment and conducting awareness and education campaigns for workers. This came during the Council’s 18th meeting of its fourth ordinary session of the ninth legislative chapter.
The Council issued its recommendations after discussing the policis of the Labor Standards Development Authority at its 17th session held in May 2019, which was headed by Khawla Al Mulla, Chairperson of the Council, and attended by His Excellency Salem Yousef Al Qaseer, Chairman of the Labour Standards Development Authority and senior LSDA officials. During the discussion, the Council members stressed the importance of giving the authority the utmost importance due to its vital role in spreading awareness among employers and workers, especially on the importance of adhering to laws, regulations, rights and work standards and providing an attractive work environment. The session was attended by Omar Al Sharji, Director of Support and Corporate Communications Department, Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Head of the Government Communication, Omar Al Salman, Head of the Support Services, and Nada Al Mannai, Head of the Public Relations and Events.
The SCC members stressed the importance of supporting its efforts in boosting the productivity of the work environment, and in organization the various events and activities for workers in the emirate. They emphasized LSDA’s role in setting appropriate policies, conducting awareness campaigns for workers and their role in the sustainable development. They pointed to the important role of wrokersas in the development projects. At the end of the session, the Council approved the recommendations.
In her speech, Khawla Al Mulla stressed the keen interest of the Sharjah Consultative council to give the utmost importance for the authority’s policy, due to its vital role in spreading awareness among employers and workers. She said: "The authority has its role in providing an attractive work environment, help improve worker’s education, cultur and health. It is holding lectures and seminars to educate them on their rights and duries, and the legal procedures to follow to ensure their rights. The LSDA also aims at qualifying workers technically and professionally, and improve their work and accommodation facilities, in cooperation with the government and private sectors. The LSDA received the full support of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Executive Council. "
She added: "Because of the importance of this issue, we hope for the discussions to help the authority develop work standards, improve its services, and develop its business mechanisms, to serve the development process in the various fields."
On his part, Chairman of the Authority Salem Al Qaseer praised the SCC for the great interest it gave to government departments and the progress of their work. He thanked the SCC for its interest in the LSDA’s efforts, initiatives and activities exerted to serve employers and workers in the Emirate of Sharjah. He briefed the council on authority’s work, followed bt a presentation introducing the authority’s plans to boost the work environment.
Al Qaseer said: “The importance of the authority’s role lies in the fact that the Emirate of Sharjah has established its industrial position in the region, as it is the industrial center of the UAE, and it is one of the vital and advanced economies, that include 21 industrial areas, spanning on an area of 15 square kilometers, forming the country’s heart of the manufacturing sector. Sharjah’s unique business climate and investment attractions have made it a leading regional business center. There are now 600,000 workers in Sharjah, forming more than 12 percent of the country’s total workers. Our strategic plan is to support workers and employers and meet their needs, in cooperation With government and private institutions.
The authority has succeeded in completing a large part of these plans; it conducted a field survey of some of the workers ’residences, to review their status and needs and to recommend the modifications needed to improve and ensure meeting the standards. The survey revealed the need to improve the infrastructure in the industrial areas, and to provide them with commercial, sports, health care, educational and recreational places. By the directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, the LSDA is planning to establish five labour parks, having a number of services, such as playgrounds to practice various kinds of sports, mosques, shops, and cafes. The LSDA is about to complete the first park in the Sajaa area.
The authority also seeks to allocate one of these parks to become a labour mall. It is currently in the planning gstage conducted in cooperation with a number of government department and private institutions. This unique labour mall, which will be built on an area of 200,000 square feet, in Sajaa area, will include 88 shops, a large shopping center over an area of more than 10,000 square feet, a hospital on an area of 7700 square feet, and two cinemas to accommodate more than 1,000 persons. It will provide everything workers need. "
Nada Al-Mannai, Head of the Public Relations and Events, reviewed the authority's vision calling for an attractive work environment and innovative work relationship for a sustainable development. She said the LSDA’s mission aims to improve performance of workers and employers, and to consolidate concepts of production for the service of economy and society. It also aims at promoting the issuing of laws, legislation and policies governing labor relations, and to ensure continued commitment to them and updating them, to keep pace with the development in the Emirate of Sharjah.