‘Worker Welfare' is of paramount importance: Dubai Chamber

Dulsco, a Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network member brings industry stakeholders to share best practices

Dubai, UAE, July 10th, 2016: The Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network partnered with Dulsco to co-host a highly interactive ‘Worker Welfare’ session along with key industry stakeholders from UAE’s corporate sector.

The country is home to a large workforce, spread across different nationalities. Workers are key stakeholders for any organization as they rely on their workforce to manage reputation and profitability. Organisations are therefore also expected to develop consolidated worker welfare programmes that include several services, benefits and facilities. The welfare measures however, need not be just monetary but could also include in kind benefits.

The ‘Stakeholder Session’ brought together different participants from private sector to share their current best practices, experiences and challenges. The session was attended by representatives from Majid Al Futtaim, Empower, ABB, Blue (member of Alserkal Group), Qurum Business Group (QBG), Al Rostamani Pegel, DHL, FedEx and Dulsco.  

This forum was organised to understand the current practices within the private sector, in addition to evaluating current and expected future challenges with regard to worker welfare. The discussion also highlighted the possible ways that businesses can adopt to create better synergies between business requirements and worker expectations. The participants also elaborated on strategies for businesses to look at developing initiatives that focus on capacity building for individual workers and at the same time focus on their future.   

Speaking at the session, Prakash Parab, Director HR Solutions from Dulsco said that, “Workers in the UAE come from different backgrounds, cultures and nationalities, but ultimately, they all have the same fundamental needs. Each and every organisation irrespective of its size should be committed to empowering their workers and helping them achieve their potential. In order to do that worker welfare and continuous development of the workforce should remain an integral part of their business function.”

“The worker welfare programmes should focus on three core areas one is by providing good healthcare measures, focusing on their financial well-being and improving their knowledge levels by regular education programmes pertaining to their industry.  This approach will help them turn their professional goals and dreams into reality,” added Prakash.

This discussion will further look at paving the way for collaboration at an industry level and to advocate changes at the regulatory level to further enhance worker welfare practices.