Daily news brief: Wednesday, 2nd July 2008
Foreigners visiting UAE must undergo medical check-ups for contagious diseases
WAM Published: July 01, 2008, 18:56
Dubai: Foreigners who come to the UAE to live, study or work for a period not less than six months will now have to undergo medical check-ups for some contagious diseases, like HIV/Aids, Hepatitis-b and leprosy.
Humaid Mohammad Al Qutami, Minister of Health, has issued a new ministerial decree making it compulsory for all expatriates coming to the UAE to live, study or work to undergo the medical tests.
Insurance for low-income expats
By Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: July 02, 2008, 00:08
Abu Dhabi: Expatriates earning a salary of Dh5,000 or less will now be eligible to enrol for the basic health insurance plan due to high inflation rates in the UAE, said an official from the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD).
The basic health insurance plan (BHIP) is subsidised by the government of Abu Dhabi for people with low monthly salaries. Up until June 1 more than 700,000 expatriates with a salary of Dh4,000 or less have been enrolled in the plan. Daman has more than a million health insurance members to date.
Under Law 23, the executive council of Abu Dhabi and HAAD agreed with the National Health Insurance Company (Daman) to keep the premium basic product stable at Dh600 for 2008. The employer bears all costs of the employee's basic plan.
Most companies sticking to midday break rule
By Wafa Issa, Fuad Ali and Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporters GULF NEWS Published: July 02, 2008, 00:08
Dubai/ Fujairah/Ras Al Khaimah: Ministry of Labour inspectors across the country went out two hours prior to the start of the midday break to spread awareness about the implementation of the rule while the majority of companies showed commitment on the first day of its enforcement.
Maher Al Oabed, head of the Inspection Unit at the ministry, said that the ministry's main focus this year was to educate companies and workers on the rule.
Mid-day respite for workers from today
By Riyasbabu and Ahmed Abdul Aziz (Our staff reporters)KHALEEJ TIMES 1 July 2008
DUBAI/ABU DHABI — Beginning today, the Ministry of Labour (MoL) will enforce the mid-day break rule for labourers, banning outdoor work between and 3pm daily during the months of July and August.
However, this year, work at construction sites, where concrete mix pouring is being done (which needs non-stop work for 10 hours), electricity and water maintenance in buildings, and other light activities under shade at workshops, will be allowed during the break time, the MoL yesterday clarified.
The mid-day break will also not stop work in emergencies on roads or disasters as well as at oil and petroleum companies.
Ministry organises awareness campaign for labourers in UAE
Staff Report GULF NEWS Published: July 01, 2008, 16:04
Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Labour in association with New Medical Centre (NMC) is organising an awareness campaign for labourers across the UAE from Tuesday.
The campaign will focus on educating the labourers about taking care of their health while working under the hot summer sun.
Complementing the midday break rule that came into effect on Tuesday, the campaign will educate the labourers on simple and practical measures to avoid dehydration and illness. A team of experts, including doctors from the New Medical Centre (NMC) hospital, will visit labour camps for the purpose.
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