The United Arab Emirates' labour minister has moved to regulate dismissals of nationals by private employers, the official news agency Wam said, as the global crisis hits the country.

Directives issued by Labour Minister Saqr Ghabbash included a ban on sacking national workers if an employer keeps non-nationals on the payroll to perform the same services, Wam reported.

Employers would be required to notify the ministry 30 days in advance of layoffs of nationals, and they should give valid reasons for the sackings, it said.

Disputes over dismissals would be referred to courts, and no new work permits for expatriate workers would be issued to the employer while the cases are being heard, the state news agency said.

Several firms have announced layoffs since a global financial crisis brought to an end a building boom in the UAE, which includes regional tourism and trading hub Dubai. About two-thirds of the country's population of more than 4 million are expatriates. - Reuters