Fourth edition of Taqdeer Award honours 77 exceptional workers and companies

• Award recognises excellence in labour welfare practices
• Maj. Gen. Obaid Muhair bin Surour: Taqdeer Award will help consolidate the UAE's reputation as a leader in implementing progressive labour welfare policies 

Government of Dubai Media Office: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, 77 workers and companies were honoured in the fourth edition of the Taqdeer Award. 

The award ceremony was attended by government department heads, senior officials, representatives of regional and international organisations, professionals from both public and private sectors, members of the diplomatic corps and the media.

His Excellency Major General Obaid Muhair bin Surour, Chairman of Taqdeer Award and the Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs (PCLA) in Dubai and Deputy Director-General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA-Dubai), expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Patron of the Taqdeer Award, for his unlimited support and invaluable guidance to help the Award achieve its goals.

His Excellency Major General bin Suroor said: “The UAE has created a legislative framework to ensure the rights of workers and provide them a safe work environment. The Taqdeer Award recognises the companies that provide the best care and working environment for their workers and honours exceptional workers for their contributions to setting new standards in labour welfare.

“The UAE’s efforts to maintain high standards of health and safety during the pandemic have made it one of the few countries that have successfully protected the community and its labour force. The facilities and services provided by the country to combat COVID-19 have exceeded international benchmarks.

“The fourth edition of the Taqdeer Award, part of the Dubai Government Excellence Programme, has been able to able to achieve significant progress in promoting better relationships between the companies and workers, marked by respect for each other’s rights and a commitment to fulfilling their mutual responsibilities. We also launched a wider campaign to raise awareness about precautionary measures to ensure the safety of workers at their workplaces.”

The key achievements of the fourth edition of the Award include:

• 35 government incentives provided by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Municipality, and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai) to companies and workers who achieved 4 and 5-star ratings.
• Launch of a new project to provide Excellence Cards to workers to enable them to obtain special discounts from shopping centres, service establishments and restaurants close to their places of living.
• Distribution of millions of protective masks, gloves and meals to workers by the Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs (PCLA) in Dubai in coordination with the relevant authorities.
• Organisation of field awareness campaigns in different languages and several virtual awareness campaigns to educate employees of companies and millions of workers in Dubai and the UAE about COVID-19 precautionary measures in their accommodation and workplaces.

His Excellency Major General Bin Suroor further said the Taqdeer Award will help consolidate the UAE's reputation as a leader in implementing progressive labour welfare policies. He expressed his deepest gratitude to the government agencies that have supported the Award as well as all relevant committees; assessors; sponsoring companies, the Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs in Dubai, and the Award team. He also congratulated the winners of the Award and called on companies that did not make it to this year’s winning list to redouble their efforts in the next edition of the Award.

Addressing the heads and representatives of the companies and the workers attending the ceremony, he said: “I invite you to work unitedly to further raise standards in labour welfare and exceed global benchmarks. The UAE will never forget the part the workers have played in its development and their contributions to making it one of the world’s most developed countries in a relatively short time.”

During the ceremony, His Excellency Major General Obaid Muhair bin Surour honoured the companies and workers who won the award and wished them greater success on the path of excellence in labour welfare. He also honoured the representatives of the Strategic Partners for the Award, Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Municipality, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai and wasl Asset Management Group. He also honoured Dubai Channels Network, the Award’s Strategic Media Partner, Nedaa - Professional Communications Corporation and the Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs in Dubai. His Excellency also honoured NIA, the Platinum Sponsor; emaratech and flydubai, Gold Sponsors; and Emirates NBD, ENOC, and Al Fardan Exchange, the Silver Sponsors.

77 companies and workers honoured

A total of 77 workers and companies were recognised in the five categories of the fourth edition of the Award. Four companies were placed in the 5-star category, 11 companies in the 4-star category, and 14 companies in the 3-star category.

Four engineers received a 5-star category award, while four supervisors were awarded the title of distinguished field supervisor and four workers honoured in the category of distinguished workers. In the 4-star category, 11 workers received the title of distinguished field supervisor and 11 workers received the distinguished worker title. In the 3-star category, 14 workers received the distinguished worker title.

Winning companies 

5-star category: Al Naboodah Construction Group, Nestle Dubai Manufacturing, Imdaad LLC, Kimoha Entrepreneurs FZCO

4-star category: Amana Steel and Building Contracting LLC, Al Mashrabia Furniture Industry LLC, China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East, SD (Middle East) LLC, Aroma International Building Contracting LLC, Al Sahel Contracting Company LLC, United Engineering Construction LLC (UNEC), GECO Mechanical & Electrical Ltd., EROS Group, Al Nasr Contracting Company LLC, Agility Global Logistics FZE

3-star category: EFS Facilities Services Group, Tristar Transport LLC, Tencate Thiolon Middle East LLC, Danway Electrical and Mechanical Engineering LLC, DULSCO, World Security, Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd., Belhasa Six Construct, Precision Plastic Products Company, Electra Exhibitions FZ LLC, Petronash FZE, Hard Precast Building Systems LLC, RAQ Contracting Co. LLC, Larsen & Toubro Limited

Sponsors praise the award 

His Excellency Hesham Al Qassim, CEO, Wasl Properties and Vice-Chairman of Dubai Real Estate Corporation said: “We are pleased to be a Strategic Partner for the Award and we thank His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the support he has extended to this pioneering initiative that will help consolidate Dubai’s reputation as the best city to live and work and a leader in labour welfare best practices. This award reflects the leadership’s keenness to honour everyone who works with dedication. It also highlights the role of an important group and its contributions to the continued progress and prosperity of the Emirate.

His Excellency Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of ENOC Group, said: “We value the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid for the Taqdeer Award, and we are honoured to be one of the Silver Sponsors for this prestigious award that aims to appreciate and reward excellence in fostering better relationships between employers and workers in Dubai, and plays an important role in enhancing the emirate's position as one of the most preferred global destinations to work and live.”

His Excellency Thani Alzaffin, Director-General and Board Member of emaratech, said: “It gives me and my organisation great pleasure to be part of the inspiring initiative of creating long-lasting cooperation and meaningful understanding between employers and employees for wider socio-economic progress. Dubai has launched many pioneering initiatives and Taqdeer Award is one of them. Taqdeer Award, the world’s first initiative of its kind, promotes better relationships between companies and their workers and employees to achieve good results.”

He added: “The Award will go a long way in creating and enhancing a harmonious and all-encompassing work culture in the UAE and helping the country achieve even greater heights. I congratulate all the winners. The organisers deserve praise for this wonderful initiative.”

Haleh Nia, Chief Purpose Office at NIA, the Platinum Sponsor, said: “Taqdeer Award is undoubtedly a pioneering initiative which will contribute to a productive relationship between employers and their workers. NIA joins in the march towards the nation’s progress. The Award contributes enormously towards Dubai's tireless efforts in maintaining global standards of labour welfare practices. Dubai remains steadfastly committed to this vision and its determination to improve the lives of workers and make their world a better place.”

Hamad Obaidullah, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai said: “flydubai's sponsorship of this award, sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid, stems from its commitment to its social responsibility as a national carrier with a wide network of destinations around the world and its efforts to consolidate Dubai's reputation as the world’s best city to live and work in line with the vision of the leadership.

He added: “As in past years, the airline has been keen to support initiatives such as this award that promote better labour relations and a culture of excellence in Dubai, which today is a global destination for tourism and business and attracts talent from across the world.

Marwan Hadi, Head of Retail Banking at Emirates NBD Group, said: “Emirates NBD is proud to support companies and workers through its continuous sponsorship of the Taqdeer Award, based on its keenness to ensure the best labour practices and encourage companies to empower their workers, develop their professional skills and enhance their productivity, contributing to the establishment of a positive work environment in the UAE."

Hassan Fardan Al Fardan, CEO of Al-Fardan Exchange, said: “We are honoured to be a part of this initiative of our visionary leaders and are excited that our fellow local and international business owners are being recognised for their exceptional work culture.”

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© Press Release 2021