UAE Engages with India and Bangladesh to Strengthen Labour Market Ties at Abu Dhabi Dialogue

During the recent Seventh Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) Ministerial Consultation held in Dubai, part of the World Governments Summit 2024, Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation of the UAE, engaged in significant discussions with key international counterparts. Notably, he met with Shafiqur Rahaman Chowdhury, Minister of State for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh, and Muktesh Pardeshi, Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of India. These meetings focused on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in the realms of labour mobility, skills development, and technological advancements in labour market relations.

The dialogues underscored the importance of India and Bangladesh as leading labour-sending countries to the UAE, which is one of the world's primary destinations for their workers. The discussions also covered takeaways from the Seventh ADD Ministerial Consultation and explored avenues for developing both bilateral and multilateral partnerships under the Abu Dhabi Dialogue framework.

Established in 2008, the Abu Dhabi Dialogue serves as a voluntary consultative mechanism aimed at fostering public dialogue on best practices between labour-sending and receiving countries in Asia. Its objectives include supporting bilateral and regional collaboration to maximise benefits for workers, employers, and the economies of involved nations.

The UAE, hosting the Permanent Secretariat of the ADD, organized this seventh edition, which saw participation from representatives across 16 labour-sending and receiving countries. The event also welcomed officials from key international organisations, observing countries, private sector institutions, civil society entities, as well as experts and researchers. This broad participation underscores the commitment to enhancing labour market dynamics through collaborative efforts.

The meetings between Dr Al Awar and his counterparts from Bangladesh and India reflect a continued commitment to improving labour relations and mobility through dialogue and cooperation. By focusing on areas such as skills development and technological adoption in labour processes, these discussions aim to foster a more robust and mutually beneficial relationship between sending and receiving countries.

As the world moves forward, such international dialogues play a crucial role in shaping global labour markets. They not only aim to enhance the efficiency and fairness of labour mobility but also seek to ensure that workers' rights are protected while contributing positively to the economies of both sending and receiving countries.

With inputs from WAM