The UAE is currently discussing new amendments to its labour laws to encourage more Emiratis to move from being employed in the public sector to the private sector, a senior official has announced.

Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash said the objective of the proposed amendments will look to narrow the gaps in working conditions between the two sectors.

In a wide-ranging interview with Al A'amal magazine, cited by news agency WAM, Ghobash said: "We have completed a comprehensive draft revision of the labour law and it is currently subject to discussions with our government partners and the competent authorities in preparation for submitting it to the Cabinet for further action.

"Without getting into details, as the draft document is still under discussion within the government, I can say that a key objective of the proposed amendments is to ensure and encourage larger participation by UAE nationals in the labour market by way of provisions in the law that narrow the gaps in working conditions between the public and private sectors."

He added that the Ministry of Labour is also keen to implement its strategic plan through to 2016 which as well as empowering UAE nationals to join the private sector, also includes higher flexibility in the labour market, attracting talent from overseas, improving labour productivity, enhancing stability in labour relations by upholding the rights of workers.

Ghobash said: "Notably, we are in the process of finalising a new standard employment contract that will guarantee the transparency of contracting by spelling out the respective rights and obligations of both parties and ensuring that the worker gives his or her verifiable consent to the terms of the contract prior to departing from his home country to work in the UAE."

Ghobash added that the protection of workers’ rights is a priority, adding that "certain international reports on labour conditions in the UAE are based on deficient information and do not reflect reality".

"Often, anecdotal evidence and particular cases in which labour standards are not up to our federal standards are used to make unsubstantiated generalisations," he said.

He also responded to the issue of the public sector being given more annual holidays than the private sector.

"Official holidays in the private sector are governed and regulated by the Labour Law. Hence, what is contained in Ministerial Decrees strictly complies with what is set by the law, namely one day for each the Hijri and Miladi New Years, the Birth of the Profit (PBUH), Al-Isra’ Wal Me’raj and the UAE National Day, three days for Eid Al-Adha and two for Eid Al Fitr," he said.