Migrant and Migratory Labour in the context of the Economy of the Emirate of Dubai: Causes, Consequences and Economic Impact
Introduction
The migration of workers from one country to another has become one of the central characteristic features of global economic system. International migration by people seeking employment and a better income has taken place in most regions of the worlds. The present pattern of migration reflects several major factors which includes the profound change in the nature of scale in the international labour migration pattern in the Middle East particularly in the United Arab Emirates. One of the seven regions of UAE is Dubai. Hence, the prime focus of this paper is to give insightful details about the definition and description of the nature of the Dubai Labour Market and to discuss the causes of its development and its economic and social implications. In addition, this will also provide SWOT analysis regarding the economy of the use of such type of labour policy. Further, this will also discuss some of the ILO core standards in relation to migrant labour. The discussion will be in fourfold.
Overview of the Economy of Dubai
Compared to other Arab regions, Dubai has distinct characteristics. Dubai is regarded as an extraordinary and balanced blend of the Eastern and Western sides. This is because Dubai is strategically and advantageously located on the Eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the South Western corner of the Arabian Gulf which is situates at the crossroads of trade and commerce between the Eastern and Western countries. The total land area of Dubai is estimated to be 2,428 sq. mi. The official language used in UAE, particularly Dubai is Arabic. However, the English language is widely used especially in the commercial sector.
It is a unique place where individuals can experience hospitality integrated in the context of the modern environment. One of its finest characteristics is its world-class industry facilities, excellent sporting opportunities, world-class medical equipments, international banks, shopping malls and tax-free benefits comprised in the same place. In addition, it can be said that Dubai has been able to experience growth in terms of Economical stability which diversify its attachment away from oil. Different aspects are attributed for making the economy of the Dubai, a success. These aspects include construction, tourism, Information technology, telecommunications, industrial resources and other service sectors have significantly made Dubai to be recognized as the trading and commercial centre. In addition, Dubai has experience development in its economy because of the wide-ranging support system that the government is giving to its outstanding telecommunication networks, state of the art port and airports equipments, and sophisticated and quality life style. This rapid growth and development can be adhered the common philosophy shared by all the people in Dubai and that is “trade and commerce that keeps in business”.
Furthermore, Dubai is politically stable and has a responsible and responsive Government with an enthusiastic and pro-business attitude and had a highly commendable commitment to the private sectors unlike other government. The Government of Dubai has imposed friendly policies and favourable customs and taxes framework which are essential in making investors be attracted in the country. The per capita GDP of Dubai is , 000 which is considered as one of the highest all over the world. The real GDP has been developed at an annual compound rate of 8% per year for the past 10 years. The oil revenues are accounted for 10% of GDP in 2000 and are expected to be 1% by the year 2010 ().
In today’s economic changes, more and more trans-national migratory workers have emerged in different part of the Middle East specifically, the United Arab Emirates, statistics shows that migrant individuals who are commonly working in Dubai includes people from different continents of the world including, Asia, Europe, America, and Africa. These countries are India, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia, Colombia, Peru, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Ghana, Madagascar and Nigeria. And most of these are female migrant’s workers. Migrant workers in South Asia comprise almost 65% of the labour forces in Dubai.
The changes of labour market because of the emergence of globalization have strengthened both opportunities and pressures for the migrant workers. In Dubai, migrant workers usually employed in domestic works, managerial jobs and non-managerial position, Children that comes from Afghanistan and other neighbouring countries are working in the camel raising industries.
SWOT Analysis
In this paper the economy and the social status of Dubai will be analysed, using SWOT Analysis which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. One of the strengths that can be seen in Dubai is its united people and the government of Dubai itself. The government of Dubai has the ability to imposed rules and regulations favourable for both their economy and the private business sectors.
They opened their trade and commercial industry to attract investors from different nations. In addition, the efficient use of the modern technology can also be regarded as one of the strengths of Dubai, which includes its information technological advancement. In addition, Dubai is also competitive in relation to its migrant and domestic workers, which are regarded to have a significant contribution for the economic development of Dubai. In addition, the ability of Dubai to handle immigrants and tourists helped boost their economy to become globally competitive (2004). Another competency and strength that can be attributed to the economy and society of Dubai, is their ability to be separated in oil-industries and diversifying in trade and commercial industry which is a big factor of growth and development.
The only weakness that can be attached to Dubai is its discrimination against women to join in the labour forces. Aside from that, Dubai is also having a problem when it comes to trafficking which can later on become the worst weakness of the Dubai, due to legal issues.
On the other hand, the threat of Dubai as a whole is the emergence of migrant workers who can possibly be a liability to the industry of Dubai. In addition, Dubai is also threatened by the global economic changes which might make Dubai economy be left behind other nations who can easily cope with the changes. Opportunities lie on the investors who are easily attracted to the growing market of Dubai. With the trade and commercial strengths of Dubai, many investors are more willing to invest different projects and businesses in Dubai which helped Dubai as a whole in terms of employment and human resources sectors. The Information technology infrastructure of Dubai is also an opportunity because technological advancement served as the cornerstone on how economy of nations becomes stable.
Core Labour Standards of ILO
International Labour organisation is one of the United Nation’s agencies that purposes on promulgating the rights of labour workers nationally and internationally. The eight core labour standards of ILO includes the freedom of association and protection of the right to organize, forced labour convention, the abolition of forced labour, right to organize and collective bargaining, equality or equal remuneration, elimination of child labour, discrimination (employment and occupation), minimum age convention.
The main purpose of freedom of Association and Protection of Right to organise convention is to allow the members of the ILO to establish their own organisation, draw up their own constitutions and rules and to freely elect their representative which would delegate them in legal actions and legal matters in times that they encounter problems with their employers. The workers are given the chance to choose which organization they would join, prior to the convention draw by ILO. Right to organise and collective bargaining convention aims to give protection to all employers and workers against acts of anti-union discrimination in respect of their employment. The purpose of this is to give protection to the workers and employers against interference from other members of the organization. The next standards of ILO are the force labour convention which aims to protect any workers against any forceful activities of work. If the worker does not voluntarily chooses the specific jobs, he or she is protected with this ILO labour standards and the one who forces him or her to work, is subject for punishment and penalty. This is to ensure that the right of the individuals to choose the job they want is being imposed or implemented. Abolition of forced labour Convention aims to disregard the use of all compulsory labour as a means of political oppression or education. This also served as a sanction against the free manifestation of political and ideological viewpoint. It also intended to serve as a means to organize or put discipline on the workforces.
Equal remuneration or equality aims to promote equal compensation between the male and female work forces. This is applicable to basic salary wages and other payments given to the employee directly and indirectly. In this manner, the employers should be able to set evaluation in order to determine which individual should be given equal payment without considering the gender of such worker. On the other hand, the convention of employment and occupation aims to promote the abolishment of any form of discrimination from such as gender, race, religion, sexuality, political ideology and other aspects. In this manner, the government of the country should imposed rules and regulations in order to totally abolish discrimination in the working place in terms of employment and occupation. In addition, the policy implemented by the government should include the freedom of the workers to access to employment, training and working condition. Further, the government should pass laws and introduce educational systems to promote the concept of equality of both opportunity and treatment for the sake of the workers.
The next core ILO labor standards also introduces Minimum Age of Entry into Employment which states that governments authority must imposed a national policy or rules which aims to ensure the efficient elimination of any form of child labor. In most cases, the minimum age of employment should be 14 to 15 years, hence children who are below these aged should not be given any works and employment. This is to protect the right if the child to live in a convenient and comfortable life until they reach the age that they can do things just likes adults. And lastly, the convention of worst forms of child labor, which is set as the first move in elimination all the worst forms of child labor such as bonded labor, slavery, pornography, prostitution, drug trades and other criminal activities which threatens the life of any child. In this manner, the government should imposed policy which aims to abolish all the worst forms of child labor that will lead to moral, safety and health destruction of any child.
Conclusion
It can be said that Dubai has seen tremendous growth in terms of economic stability. Analysis shows that the current labor market of Dubai has been able to have positive impact in both the economy and the society of the country. It goes to show that Dubai has been able to sustain its economic stability and growth because of the fact that the government has been able to impose an effective and strategic national policy that benefits the economy of Dubai, its society and the labor forces as well.
The policy of ILO, globalization and other multinational companies are driving force of the changes that occurs in the labor market locally and internationally, with this the government of Dubai has made it possible to cope with these changes. Further, the government of Dubai has been able to adjust its policy to the global changes happened in the world. It is said that the driving forces of the changes in the labor market is because of the emergence of globalization which not only affects how business works but also influence how government of a certain country like Dubai should create their policies in terms of labor market. In this manner, the trend of tremendous growth of migratory workers is due to the impact of globalization.
Today, Dubai can be said as a strong and stable country in terms of economic development and growth, although there are many changes that are happening, Dubai can surely have a better and great economic advantage than other countries.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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