Day: February 12, 2024

DUBAI: The Seventh Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) Ministerial Consultation ended on Sunday, 11 February, with a Closing Statement that outlines a set of principles and priorities for the next edition of the Dialogue.

The announcement followed two days of meetings that the UAE hosted as part of the World Governments Summit 2024, bringing together ministers of labour, human resources and employment, along with senior officials from 16 Asian labour-sending and receiving member countries.

Also, in attendance were observers from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), UN Women, International Organisation of Employers (IOE), European Union (EU), and other international organisations, observer countries, and institutions from the private sector and civil society.

Abu Dhabi Dialogue member countries participating in the Seventh ADD Ministerial Consultation included labour-sending countries in Asia: Banglad
esh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, and labour-receiving countries: the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia.

The Closing Statement outlined a set of principles for the upcoming two-year period, namely, the nexus between climate change and labour mobility in the Asia-GCC corridor; labour mobility and skills for a just transition to a green economy; and administrating expatriate workers in ADD member states, while addressing related legal, social, and career implications, and unlocking the role of skills and diversity for labour productivity in member states.

The Statement welcomed the Permanent Secretariat’s reports, which underline the significant progress Abu Dhabi Dialogue has achieved, most notably the establishment of the Advisory Committee, and thanked the UAE government for its exceptional organisation of the Seventh ADD Ministerial Consultation meeting.

The Statement applauded Pakistan’s efforts during its Chairmanship
of the 7th meeting, acknowledging the current standing of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue at both regional and international levels, and underlining the tangible achievements ADD is making in terms of advancing labour mobility governance in the Asia-GCC Corridor. The Statement has also announced the Sultanate of Oman as the upcoming Chair-in-Office of the ADD.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) represents the UAE in holding the Permanent Secretariat of Abu Dhabi Dialogue and managing it.

Established in 2008, Abu Dhabi Dialogue is a voluntary consultative mechanism that aims to provide a voluntary public platform for dialogue on best practices between Asian labour countries of origin and destination. The main objective of ADD is to enhance bilateral and regional partnerships and maximise benefits for workers, employers, and the economies of labour-sending and receiving countries.

Ensuring inclusivity of the topics to be addressed at ADD, the chairmanship of the Dialogue is rotated every two ye
ars among the Asian labour sending and receiving member countries.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, praised the exceptional participation and worldwide attention garnered by the World Governments Summit (WGS), commending its commitment to addressing “issues serving humanity.”

Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit, which kicked off in Dubai earlier today, Sheikh Nahyan lauded the summit’s emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting its potential to safeguard communities against emerging technologies.

He reiterated the substantial and extensive presence at the 2024 summit, featuring a wide range of programmes and discussions to benefit the UAE and the global community. These efforts aim to foster connections and facilitate the signing of agreements between governments and companies to drive further development across various sectors.

Sheikh Nahyan reaffirmed the WGS’s role as a platform to enhance cooperation among governments, civil society, and the private se
ctor, fostering exchanging ideas and innovation to address global challenges effectively.

The WGS 2024 focuses on six main themes: government acceleration and transformation, artificial intelligence and the next frontiers, reimagining development and future economies, future societies and education, sustainability and the new global shifts, and urbanisation and global health priorities.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai met with the Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr. Mostafa Madbouli, as part of the ongoing World Governments Summit 2024, which was inaugurated in Dubai today under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments’.

The meeting was held in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE.

The meeting reviewed the historic ties between the UAE and Egypt, focusing on the wellbeing of people in both countries and ways of advancing their aspirations on the regional and international stage.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid welcomed Dr. Madbouly and his accompanying delegation, reaffirming the significant and longstanding relations between the UAE
and Egypt while highlighting the commitment of the two countries to further advance and build upon bilateral ties. His Highness also expressed his appreciation of Egypt’s participation in the World Governments Summit, wishing its leadership and people greater progress and prosperity.

Dr. Madbouly emphasised the depth of the historical ties between the two countries and congratulated the UAE and its leadership on the exemplary organisation of the World Governments Summit, praising the remarkable response it had evoked globally and its goals of enhancing government functioning and fostering development, prosperity, and forward-looking strategies.

The World Governments Summit 2024 hosts over 4,000 experts from 140 governments, 85 international organisations and 700 global corporations to explore major global future trends during more than 110 plenaries, panel discussions and interactive sessions, with 200 international speakers sharing their insights, in addition to 23 ministerial meetings and executive sessio
ns to be attended by more than 300 ministers.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The Lawyers Affairs Committee of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) has approved the applications lodged for registration on the roll of practicing lawyers for 13 new UAE national applicants.

Additionally, one application for registration as a law firm representative was accepted.

The meeting of the Lawyers Affairs Committee, chaired by Yousef Saeed Alabri, Undersecretary of the Judicial Department, considered three complaints filed against lawyers and made appropriate decisions in their regard.

The Committee also examined the applications for renewal of the registration of 10 lawyers whose licences had expired more than two months ago and the requests made by four lawyers who wish to be included on the list of non-practising lawyers.

The meeting of the Lawyers Affairs Committee was also attended by the Committee members Judge Bouchaib Hajamy, President of Al Ain Court of Appeal, Judge Assem Elsaadany, from Abu Dhabi Court of Appeal, Mohamed Dhewaiher Alkatheeri from the Public Prosecutio
n, Attorney Abdullah Fadhl Al Hammadi, and Khamees Mubarak Al Qubaisi, Director of Lawyers and Experts Affairs Division, as rapporteur of the Committee.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: Fiker Institute will participate in the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024 as a knowledge partner, supporting the development of the platform’s forward-thinking agenda through the Institute’s interdisciplinary research programs.

Fiker Institute has signed a strategic partnership in 2022 with WGS, joining other organisations in fostering thought leadership through research and programming surrounding strategic developments and trends that will shape future governments.

The two entities share the goal of navigating the complexity of issues that face the world today through concerted and multifaceted efforts as well as their mutual areas of focus. Through its Diplomacy and Global Governance Program, Fiker Institute examines the changing landscape of diplomacy and the future of multilateral institutions, especially in today’s digitally interconnected world, while WGS this year focuses on government transformation and AI as well as future economies and development.

Fiker Institute and WGS both highlight
the pressing need to address climate change; the platform includes sustainability among its 2024 six main themes, and the Institute, through its Climate Change Program, researches sustainable adaptation and resilience models across all regions.

In light of this, Fiker Institute and WGS will publish a joint report on the future of BRICS+, addressing the bloc’s expanded role in advancing South-South cooperation and the interests of developing countries internationally, and exploring what could that mean for both the future of multilateralism and North-South relations.

Noting the platform’s status as a convenor of leaders, thinkers, and policy makers, Mohamed Yousef AlSharhan, Managing Director of the World Governments Summit (WGS) Organisation, said, ‘As the world gathers in Dubai to shape future governments, we must ensure they are empowered with the proper tools and data to make informed decisions. The World Governments Summit is a neutral platform that welcomes leaders, thinkers, and policymakers from all
walks of life to exchange knowledge and expertise, conceptualising a scalable approach to shaping future governments.’

For her part, Dubai Abulhoul, Founder and CEO of Fiker Institute, said, ‘The world should not look at BRICS+ through the narrow lens of just being an ‘alternative’ to existing or Western-led international institutions, but rather as an attempt to foster and encourage different forms of multilateralism, which in turn would strengthen international cooperation as a whole. Through our partnership with the World Governments Summit, we aim to advocate for more inclusive definitions of multilateralism on the global stage.’

The joint report, titled ‘BRICS and The West: What Can We Expect In The Next Decade?’ proposes several policy scenarios that critically assess how BRICS+’ relationship with the West can evolve and take shape in the next decade. In one scenario, BRICS+ would continue to grow as an alternative economic powerhouse, admitting more emerging economies as members. Through this, the
bloc will keep on growing economically, further diversifying its trade relations, and potentially accelerating the process of de-dollarisation. A second scenario expects the bloc to expand as a multilateral political counterweight, focusing on increasing its political influence and impact on peace and security matters, in addition to economic integration, growth, and trade diversification. In this scenario, BRICS+ will build its alternative governance institutions, economic and financial institutions, trade agencies, and even an environment-focused organisation.

More than 4,000 participants from the public and private sectors will participate in 110 interactive sessions at WGS 2024, including 200 speakers from 80 international, regional and intergovernmental organisations including the UN, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Arab League. It will also welcome eight Nobel prize winners, and provide a platform for 23 mini
sterial meetings in the presence of more than 300 ministers. In partnership with a select group of knowledge partners, the Summit will launch more than 25 strategic reports, focusing on the most important practices and trends in vital sectors.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) has issued a circular to government and private sector employers, detailing the regulations for pension deductions and end-of-service gratuity in line with Federal Decree Law No. 57 of 2023.

The circular included limiting the procedure of deduction from the pension or end-of-service gratuity for the benefit of GPSSA’s debt since the Authority is prohibited from making any deductions for the benefit of any other debts, whether they are for the benefit of the employer or alimony debts. These rules apply to all cases of debts before or after the implementation of this decree, effective as of 2/9/2024.

Accordingly, the GPSSA will transfer the entire pension or gratuity without any deduction for any debt except GPSSA’s debt. As for the alimony debt, individuals seeking this debt can take measures to seize the pension or gratuity through the bank by which it is transferred and not through the Authority.

The Authority’s debts will be recovered f
rom end-of-service gratuities without limitation. In cases of unlawful disbursement, GPSSA has the right to deduct from other beneficiaries’ shares, proportional to their entitlements, without prejudice to their rights. Entitled amounts will be spent according to each of their shares.

According to relevant legislation, GPSSA retains the right to collect its debts ahead of any other owed amounts. These regulations apply to all citizens covered by GPSSA’s pension law and employers subject to its provisions.

Source: Emirates News Agency