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Construction workers present a helmet to Shaikh Mansour at the presentation of Taqdeer awards, a government effort to boost worker productivity and improve labour conditions, in the presence of Maj Genl Bin Surour, and Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim. Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

Dubai: Uday Kumar, a 30-year-old Indian worker in Al Naboodah Construction, told Gulf News that he is grateful to Dubai for hosting him and thousands of other workers and for safeguarding labour rights in their workplaces.

Acting as a representative of thousands of workers, Kumar addressed top officials and managers at a ceremony in Dubai to honour companies for protecting labourers rights.

“I came to Dubai before one year to achieve my dreams. The company provided good facilities for us with best accommodation and food. I’m happy in UAE,” Kumar said during the ceremony to honour the winners of the Taqdeer (appreciation) Award Programme, an initiative that recognises companies which implement best global practices in safeguarding labour rights in the workplace.

Kumar said he has nothing but “appreciation to Dubai for the joy and progress that we proudly give our families back home.”

A total of 31 winning companies were honoured with trophies by Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Also recognised were top-performing workers working in different companies across various sectors, including about 50 workers and supervisors who received prizes.

In its third year, the award has managed to include more than one million workers and has come to witness a 77% growth in the number of participating companies in different sectors compared to its second year, said Maj-Gen Obaid Muhair Bin Surour, chairman of Taqdeer Award and deputy director-general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

He said companies were evaluated by more than 105 qualified assessors based on essential fundamentals such as labour policies, occupational health; cultural and work environment factors such as communication, creativity and innovation, rules and regulations; as well as results based on labour perceptions and performance indicators.

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Uday Kumar Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

“The award now has a much bigger role with respect to establishing the best relations between companies and workers. This is what we have seen through the level of improvement introduced by the companies to the work environment, including: making important adjustments to their organisational structures, creating innovation departments, promoting open door policy and adopting surveys to determine the level of workers’ satisfaction,” he said during the ceremony held at Meydan Hotel on Monday.

Many organisations were reported to have changed their organisational structure, upgraded their facilities, and adjusted their policies to meet the needs of the workers, he added.

“The award was launched in 2016 with an aim to building fruitful and successful work partnerships between employers and employees; ensuring their respective rights; and motivating companies to strengthen the pillars of decent living for their workers, taking care of them and protecting their rights,” he said.

Participating companies were given a rating by the judging committee ranging from one to five stars, based on the number of points they received in an evaluation.

Companies that received a five- and four-star rating will be given priority in government projects and a competitive advantage in bidding for international contracts.

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Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presenting Taqdeer award, a government effort designed to boost worker productivity and improve labour conditions to construction workers and representative of their companies. Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
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Construction workers presenting a helmet to Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum after presentation of Taqdeer award, a government effort designed to boost worker productivity and improve labour conditions to construction workers in presence of Major-General Obaid Muhair Bin Surour, deputy director-general of GDRFA and chairman of Taqdeer Award. Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
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Taqdeer Award 2018 Winners

5-Star Rating

Mai Dubai LLC from the manufactures sector

Amana Steel Buildings Contracting LLC

Imdaad LLC from the service sector

Kimoha Entrepreneurs Limited

Aswaaq LLC from

4-Star Rating

BIC Contracting LLC

United Engineering Construction Company (LLC)

Aroma International Building Contracting LLC

Dulsco.LLC

Desert Landscape Co. LLC

Multiplex Constructions LLC

Bam Higgs & Hill LLC

Al Naboodah Construction

Arabtec Construction LLC

Geodis Freight Forwarding LLC

Agility Global Logistics FZE the best in the free zone sector

3-Star Rating

Eros Group

Danway Electrical & Mechanical Engineering LLC

UTS Carrier LLC

Hard Precast Buildings Systems (L.L.C)

Al Nasr Contracting Co. LLC

Future Metro Tech. Cont. LLC

Nestle Middle East Manufacturing

Larsen & Toubro Limited ECC ‏

EFS Facilities Services

Crown Emirates Co. Ltd

GECO Mechanical & Electrical Ltd.Co

Robert Bosch Middle East

Al Sahel Contracting Company L.L.C

SD (Middle East) LLC

MS Construction LLC