The UAE is considering a number of schemes for the social protection of expats working in the country, reports Middle East news site Emirates 24|7.

The site reports that UAE Minister of Labour Saqar Ghobash says the ministry is considering various schemes, adding that its immediate focus remains, however, on enforcing the current end-of-service scheme and protecting the worker against non-compliance or default by the employer.

Currently, UAE law mandates state guest workers be paid an end-of-service lump sum equivalent to around one month pay for each year of service.

The UAE commissioned a study on social protection for temporary contract workers, which confirmed that the average length of stay by a guest worker, and his/her level of compensation, are two key factors that need to be taken into account when looking at alternatives to an end-of-service scheme, Ghobash said.

The study offers a number of suggestions including tying transition to a contributory system to length of residence, and the creation of a migrant savings account that can help sustain the guest worker in between jobs, as rules on mobility have recently been significantly relaxed by the Ministry of Labour.