The management of Taqdeer Award, which recognises excellence in labour welfare practices in Dubai, UAE, has started its visits to top construction companies to enhance awareness about the award.

During the first phase of these initiatives, the Taqdeer team made onsite visits to the participating companies, including Al Nawras Construction, Vision Construction, Dutco Construction Co and BK Gulf, interacted with the workers, and also distributed Taqdeer Award stickers and brochures, to be displayed in premises of the companies, on buses and also gave T-shirts and caps for labourers in these companies.

The Taqdeer Award was launched last year under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council.

It 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 among construction companies alongwith enhancing relationship between companies and workers and also recognising excellence among workers.

Major General Obaid Muhair Bin Suroor, chairman of Taqdeer Award and deputy director general of the GDRFA in Dubai, said: “We would like to thank the construction companies in Dubai for their overwhelming response to participating in Taqdeer Award. This reflects their keenness to be a part of the award, which is inspired and guided by the vision of our wise leadership, shows their commitment to deliver the best and set the highest international standards when it comes to adopting labour welfare measures.

“It also shows that the companies acknowledge the valuable contribution of labourers in the progress of the construction sector in Dubai. The initiatives started by the Award management are aimed at boosting relationship between employers and employees, generating massive awareness about workers rights and welfare measures across sectors in the Dubai and we will continue with similar initiatives in the future as well,” he said.

In its first cycle 2016, the award is focusing on construction sector companies and the will be expanded in its future cycles to include both the free zones and manufacturing companies.
There are around 282 companies in this sector in Dubai, providing jobs for more than 500,000 workers. The award will target those companies employing more than 100 workers.

Meanwhile, the Taqdeer Award certified assessors, who include managerial level experts from different nationalities, have started the evaluation process for construction companies in Dubai that have applied to participate in the award.

Winners of five- and four-star ratings will receive a certificate, enjoy priority in government projects, and will be honoured at an award ceremony.

These top ratings will give companies a competitive advantage in bidding for international contracts, the statement said. – TradeArabia News Service