Dubai's government has set up a judging committee for the inaugural Taqdeer Awards which, this year, will focus on the construction sector.

Taqdeer, named after the Arabic word for ‘appreciation’, is the world’s first points-based award programme for recognising excellence in labour welfare practices and seeks to promote international best practices in labour welfare, said the organisers of the awards ceremony.

The award judging committee, which will have Hussein Nasser Lootah, the director general of Dubai Municipality, as its president, comprises leaders from the government sector.

These include Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, the director general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai; Khalifa Al Zaffin, the executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation; Humaid bin Dimas, the assistant undersecretary for Labour Affairs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation; and Aida Abdulrahim Al Harmoodi, the head of Consultants and Contractors Qualification Section at Buildings Department, Dubai Municipality.

The Taqdeer award seeks to establish new benchmarks in best practices across labour intensive sectors in Dubai. In its first cycle 2016, the award is focusing on construction sector companies and then will be expanded in its future cycles to include both the free zones and manufacturing companies, stated Major General Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, the deputy director general of the GDRFA in Dubai, who is the chairman of the award.

There are around 282 companies in this sector in Dubai, providing jobs for more than 500,000 workers. The award will target those companies employing more than 100 workers.

On the importance of the panel's role, Obaid said the committee will play a crucial role in facilitating the achievement of the goals of the Taqdeer Award by guiding the assessment teams to ensure that the selection criteria are met.

The judging committee will be responsible for the final approval of the award winners.

The launch of the Taqdeer Award comes at a time when Dubai’s construction sector stays strong as stated by latest Deloitte and Meed Projects report that the projects under construction or in the pipeline in Dubai are estimated at over $390.8 billion.  The construction sector has a significant contribution to Dubai's GDP (nearly 8 per cent).

Lootah said these awards will set international benchmarks in labour practices and establish successful relationship between companies and workers by encouraging transparency, fairness and respect for the rights of all those working in the construction sector and also by ensuring their welfare.

According to him, the award comes at the right time when Dubai has already recorded numerous achievements in almost every field including economic and humanitarian.

"It is an honour for me to accept this role and to work with the other prominent members of the committee, who have strong experience in leadership and we will strive to work diligently to achieve the desired goals of this award and ensure that it goes to the companies and workers who truly deserve to win it," he added.

Al Marri pointed out that Taqdeer was the first of its kind award in the world and would have a strongly positive impact on more than 500,000 workers in the rapidly growing construction sector.

Al Zaffin said Taqdeer Award and its noble objectives comes at a time when Dubai is witnessing major upcoming mega projects in conjunction with Expo 2020 and beyond.

Al Harmoodi said that the Taqdeer Award uses a points-based assessment system which will be a qualitative addition to the evaluation process in the construction sector in Dubai.

Winners of five and four-star ratings will receive a certificate, enjoy priority in government projects, and will be honoured at an award ceremony.

These top ratings will give companies a competitive advantage in bidding for international contracts. -TradeArabia News Service