Ministry of Labour plans to focus on outsourcing

The Ministry of Labour is to be restructured in a major shake-up that will see some services outsourced. The reorganisation will focus on the ministry's role as a strategic organisation responsible for setting policy. About 50 per cent of the ministry's tasks will relate to the development of policy and legislation, 30 per cent to enforcement and monitoring of labour rules and 20 per cent to services and operations. Previously, the ministry dedicated half of its resources to services and operations.

Under the new plan, released by the ministry yesterday, many services will be outsourced, either to the private sector or to other public departments and institutions. Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, the Minister of Labour, welcomed the support of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who previously had ordered reform of the organisational structures of federal departments to promote a culture of accountability.

The support of the Council of Ministers had strengthened the role of the ministry as a legislative body capable of determining labour services on the basis of policies and legislation, he said. The ministry will be divided into four departments, three of which will be dedicated to strategy, policy and legislation. The fourth will control inspections and services related to labour affairs. Humaid Rashid bin Dimas has been appointed executive director of labour affairs as well as director general of the ministry.

Youssef Abdel Ghani has been appointed the executive director in charge of policies and strategic affairs, while Abeid Rashid al Zahmi has been named as executive director of institutional support services. @Email:sabdalrauf@thenational.ae