Unskilled workers from Asia will now require a basic understanding of the English language and knowledge of rules and regulations of United Arab Emirates to be able to work in that country.
Announcing the two pre-conditions, which will not be applicable to workers from Arab region, Minister of Labour Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi did not give any fixed time-frame as to when his ministry would implement the new rule.
"Workers who cannot prove that they have English language skills cannot work in the UAE," he said on Thursday.
"A special committee at the labour ministry will be set up in each country to determine the English language skills of the workers. Information booklets on rules will be available in the respective ministries in order to educate workers, who are about to start work in the UAE."
Al Ka'abi plans to tour Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Philippines to sign labour exchange agreements with these countries that mainly export manpower to the country.
"During the tour, a mechanism and regulations to bring over labour force will be determined," he said.
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