Leading companies involved in the construction of buildings, roads, bridges, tunnels, plumbing installation and power generation plants will be vying for the Dubai government's inaugural Taqdeer Awards.

Taqdeer, named after the Arabic word for ‘appreciation’, is the world’s first points-based award programme for recognising excellence in labour welfare practices and seeks to promote international best practices in labour welfare, said the organisers of the awards ceremony.

The programme, which will target those companies with a workforce of more than 100 workers, will also be instrumental in raising awareness among workers about their rights, they stated.

The winners will be honoured with the Taqdeer Award trophy at an award ceremony to be held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of the Dubai Executive Council.
 
The management of Taqdeer Award has selected 24 assessors who will play a critical role in assessing the eligibility of the construction companies that are fit to win this first-of-its kind award.

They will be given a comprehensive training for making the right selection.

The Award management is organising three training workshops that will equip the assessors with the necessary information about the objectives of the award, its criterion and the comprehensive and point-based evaluation procedure based on best international standards.

During the workshops, the assessors will be introduced to the application process and procedures for both the application and site visit. Each participating organisation will be assessed by a team of three certified assessors headed by a team leader.

The first session of the ‘Assessor Training’ kicked off yesterday.
 
Major General Obaid Muhair Bin Suroor, the chairman of the Taqdeer Award, said: "The Taqdeer Award will be a major milestone in enhancing employer and worker relationships in Dubai and encouraging companies to follow the best international practices."
 
According to him, there are around 283 companies in this sector in Dubai, employing more than 500,000 workers. 

As per the criteria, these companies should have been involved in civil, electrical and mechanical work and must have been operating in the field for at least two years, besides executing a minimum of two projects in the last two years.

On the training workshops, Major General Obaid said it will ensure that uniformity and highest international standards are adhered in evaluating the companies eligible for the award.

"Through this initiative, we look forward to building a new phase of positive and fruitful co-operation between workers and employers for the benefit of both parties," he added.

Explaining the selection process, Major General Obaid said the companies will first submit a comprehensive submission document and then the assessors will award the ratings - from one-star to five-star - after evaluation of their documents and site visit.  

"Winners of five- and four-star ratings will receive recognition certificates and also they will get to enjoy priority in government projects," he added.-TradeArabia News Service