Dubai rating to promote workers welfare

Dubai will honour construction companies with the “Taqdeer” award in September 2016 that aims at enhancing the image of the emirate in international arena and will make labourers aware of their rights and duties towards their organisations.

Nearly 170 of the 283 construction firms can participate in the award, as they meet one of the set criteria of having over 100 workers on their payrolls. Currently, all the company employ over 500,000 workers.

“We will open the ratings award for companies in May 2016 with the results being announced in September 2016. Companies with five- and four-star ratings will enjoy priority in government projects.

It will also give them the competitive edge in bidding in international contracts,” Major General Obaid Muhari Bin Suroor, Deputy Director-General of the Directorate General of Residency and Affairs in Dubai and Chairman of “Taqdeer” award, said while giving details of the award on Wednesday.

‘Taqdeer’, the world’s first points-based award programme for recognising excellence in labour welfare practices was launched by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, in October 2015.

Essential criteria

Participating companies will be evaluated against three main sets of criteria – Essential Fundamentals; Culture and Work Environment; and Results.

The first two criteria are Enabling Factors. Sub-criteria under Essential Fundamentals include labour policies, facilities and infrastructure; health and safety; labour security; and recruitment and wages, while Culture and Work Environment covers justice and transparency; labour relations; communication and feedback; creativity and innovation; and administration. The Results criteria include labour perceptions and key performance indicators.

The award is based on a comprehensive points system with companies given a score out of 1,000. The total points will be distributed equally between enabling factors and results, with a maximum of 500 points for each.

The highest rating of 5–stars will be awarded to companies that obtain 700 points or more. Companies that obtain over 550 points will receive a 4-star rating, while companies with over 450 points get a 3-star rating. A 2-star rating will be given to companies with over 300 points, while companies with less than 200 points will get the lowest 1-star rating.

Companies involved in the construction of buildings, roads, bridges, tunnels, plumbing installation and power generation plants are eligible for applying for the award in 2015-2016. Firms also need to meet criteria such as being in operation for at least two years; having executed a minimum of two projects and have over 100 workers on their payrolls.

“The programme aims at minimising labour disputes, increasing labour satisfaction and trust towards their organisation, and spreading awareness about the importance of developing systems, rules, guidelines and local laws related to labour. It will also improve the UAE’s ranking in the international competitiveness and will attract international organisations to establish offices in Dubai,” Suroor said.

The “Taqdeer” award will cover the manufacturing sector in 2017-18 and free zones in 2019-2020.

Workers to benefit

The official disclosed that the award will help labourers to know their rights and duties towards their organisation; help increase happiness, prosperity and work satisfaction levels; get fair salary and benefits as prevalent in the labour market and upgrade labour living conditions and relations with their superiors.

“They will be able to express their opinions and communicate their message to the top management. It will ensure that companies will provide environment that will encourage productivity and safety from hazards and accidents,” he added.

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