Labor Code awareness session, know thy rights [Archives:2007/1049/Local News]
SANA'A, May 9 ) Once again Yemen Times staff take another step in their career enhancement through Yemen Times administration's policy for employees personal development. This time, the training was legal through a two-day course on Monday and Tuesday, on the Yemeni labor code. Lawyer Khaled Al-Anisi, the newspaper's legal consultant, gave the attendees a detailed explanation of the labor code and answered their various questions on their rights and obligations.
With more than 38 significant questions from the staff and a copy of the labor code given to each employee by Yemen Times administration, the employees were armed with sufficient knowledge to exercise their legal rights and take on their responsibilities as employees in the private sector.
“First of all, let me tell you how delighted I am that you all are gathered here to learn about the law that concerns you. It is the first time that an institution calls on a lawyer to educate its employees about their rights and responsibilities,” Al-Anisi started his presentation.
The talk included important issues such as job contracts, definition of an employee and the work. Who does this law applied to tc. The general principle from the Yemeni labor code is as follows: wherever a specific system exists that gives better privileges and work insurances to the employees, it is applied. The best practices are to be used in favor of the employees whether from this law or the internal charters of the organization.”
This means that the law sides by with the weaker entity, here being the employee not the employer. Also there are clear articles in the law, which maintain the rights of the employees and which would prevail against any other agreement detailing less privileges, even if the employee agrees to them willingly. “For example, the law says an employee must not work more than 8 hours a day, even if the employee agrees to work more and signs a contract accordingly, this contract is not binding.” Explained Al-Anisi. However, some situations where over-time work is needed do not apply here.
The course included issues relating to creating syndicates, warning and complaints, the situation when either an employer or an employee has the right to end the contract with or without notice. It also discussed the wages, promotions, working hours, night shifts, vacations and leaves, health insurance, and penalties
“It was an eye opener fro both the admin and the staff, I think by doing this step we managed to increase the job security of our staff and ensure that the management of the organisation is a professional one.” Commented Nadia Al-Sakkaf editor in chief on the course's significance.
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