New promotion campaign for Taqdeer Awards

Dubai government plans to start an promotion campaign for the second edition of Taqdeer Award, the world’s first points-based reward system for recognizing excellence in labour welfare practices. More than 60 companies attended the first session of the campaign, which focusses on construction, manufacturing, electrical and mechanical contracting sectors across the emirate. The Taqdeer Award award was launched under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, to promote international best practices in labour welfare. Major General Obaid Muhair Bin Suroor, the deputy director general of General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai and chairman of the Taqdeer Award, said: "Within a year of its launch, Taqdeer Award has encouraged and recognised companies to set exemplary standards in labour practices. Raising massive about the award across different sectors is highly important to help companies learn about international practices and benefit by enhancing labour practices." "This is in line with the vision of our leadership to ensure happiness for all residents and to ensure labour welfare. We are expecting the number of participating companies to atleast double in the second edition," he noted. The importance of awareness about best practices in labour welfare among companies is being recognised worldwide in order to ensure ethical and efficient practices. According to a recent Human Rights Outlook 2016, released by risk advisory firm Verisk Maplecroft, lack of information on labour practices deep within the supply chain is among the biggest threats to the brand reputation of global companies over the next year. During the promotion, the companies were given details on objectives of the award, framework, criteria to participate and areas they need to focus to be eligible for the participation. They were also updated on documentation and the evaluation process to help them analyse their eligibility and prepare accordingly. Dr Kasim Kanakri, the technical consultant, Taqdeer Award, said it will conduct three awareness sessions this month. "Taqdeer award has become the stand and reliable reference for labour care and is gaining more support from labour intensive companies in various sectors," he added. According to him, the award in its second cycle will attract participation of companies from building and construction industry, manufacturing, and electrical mechanical contracting sectors. The awareness workshop which was conducted today is one of the four workshops planned for 2017. The inaugural Taqdeer Award received a tremendous response from companies last year. The winning construction companies, engineers and labourers were honoured at a special gala ceremony, which was attended by decision-makers and leaders from local and international government bodies, labour organisations and private companies