Freelancing construction workers?

Imagine a UAE where construction workers can freelance and can count on receiving wages through direct deposit. That's the picture that Yusuf Abdl Ghani, the executive director of the Ministry of Labour, painted yesterday during a speech at the Construction Week magazine's GCC Leadership Summit.

He outlined the looser visa restrictions and direct deposit initiative discussed in a National story earlier this week, underlining the ministry's enforcement function in making sure workers get paid:

"The ministry will have direct online access to the deposit transactions and be able to monitor their dates and amounts to make sure they conform to terms of contracts and that no illegal deductions are made. Flagged transactions will trigger intervention by labor inspectors."

He also added that the new rules that allow workers to stay longer in the country after losing a job "will also promote flexible employment, including part time and temporary employment."