Ministers and representatives of international organisations: EXPO 2020 Workers Monument reflects UAE's respect for workers of all nationalities

Ministers from states participating in the "Abu Dhabi Dialogue" and representatives of international organisations praised the EXPO 2020 Workers Monument during their visit to the exhibition accompanied by H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization, following the conclusion of the 6th Consultative Ministerial Meeting for the "Abu Dhabi Dialogue" hosted by the UAE from 25 to 28 October.

H.E. Mr. Jameel Bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan. Minister of Labour and Social Development of the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Federal Minister of Industries and Production Division of the friendly Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Krishna Kumar Shrestha, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security of the friendly Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal participated in the visit.

Mubarak Al-Azmi, Deputy Director for Manpower Protection in the friendly State of Kuwait, Head of the Kuwaiti delegation during the 6th Ministerial Consultative Meeting, participated in the visit, as did a number of senior officials of States participating in the Abu Dhabi Dialogue and representatives of international organisations dealing with labour and immigration who attended the meeting.

The visitors applauded the initiative to build the monument, considering it a humanitarian gesture that reflects the UAE's respect and appreciation for workers of different cultures and nationalities, and for upholding and protecting their rights.

Participants were briefed on the monument, which was erected in recognition of the outstanding efforts and achievements of more than 200 workers from around the world, as well as their dedication in completing the architectural structures at the global event site.

 The monument consists of cylindrical stone pillars engraved with the names of the aforementioned workers. A series of pillars, each carved from one stone, stretches along the main corridor of the Jubilee Park of "Expo 2020 Dubai".

Since the foundation stone for the construction of the site was laid in 2015, workers have put in more than 240 million man-hours, transforming what was previously a sandy desert into the site of "Expo 2020 Dubai" in its current dazzling appearance, a future world-class city and a key pillar in the Dubai 2040 urban master plan.

Throughout the construction period, Expo 2020 Dubai pursued a comprehensive strategy entitled "Better Together", a positive approach based on the values of health, safety and worker welfare. This strategy is based on six pillars: Leadership, Communication, Efficiency, Communication, Reward, Recognition and Continuous Progress. Each pillar includes a range of activities and programmes.

Ministers and senior officials also visited the UAE pavilion and expressed their admiration for the pavilion, which covers an area of 15,000 square metres and four floors. The design of the UAE pavilion took into account the principle of sustainability, which the UAE strives for in various aspects of its development process and in line with global goals in the field of resource conservation and the environment.

They visited the pavilions of a number of countries participating in Expo 2020 in Dubai and praised how well organised this global event is.

Launched in 2008, the Abu Dhabi Dialogue is the first regional forum for dialogue and cooperation between Asian countries that send and receive labour, with the aim of identifying best practises for labour mobility between these countries. The ADD consists of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Malaysia, as well as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.