text: SAP AG today announced a recent round of informal discussions involving the U.S. Department of Commerce, European Union (EU) officials and other public and private leaders on the opportunities presented by radio frequency identification (RFID) technologyas well as concerns that may hinder its widespread adoption. Held in Brussels the week of September 12, the meetings were organized by SAP, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) and Brussels-based think tank The Centre.
  The objective of the discussions was not to promote any particular accord or policy but rather to exchange views and information and continue an ongoing dialogue in the direction of harmonized global policies. The U.S. Department of Commerce was represented by Dan Caprio, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Chief Privacy Officer. SAP was involved given its core commitment to help customers improve their efficiency and competitiveness while helping policymakers develop balanced, pro-innovation policies.
  The fourth in a series of policy dialogues co-hosted by SAP in the United States and European Union, this latest round of meetings focused on:
  Logistics may get AED2.4-billion stimulus following new UAE labour law - Business, Supply Chain, Uae, Logistics, Supply Chain, Labour Law, Sheikh Mohammed, Dubai - Logistics Middle East
  Low-cost insurance program will replace UAE's bank guarantee by employers to sponsor employees, freeing up a potential AED2.4bn for logistics and supply chain sector.
  HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a meeting of the UAE Cabinet.
  Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has announced new legislation approved by the UAE cabinet which includes doing away with bank guarantees for the recruitment of labour in the private sector.
  Under the new law, a "low-cost insurance" system of AED60 per worker can be used instead of the current AED3,000 that must be issued as a bank guarantee by employers to sponsor employees.
  The new regulations are expected to provide an AED14 billion stimulus for the economy and lower the cost of doing business in the country.
  With more than 800,000 people working in the logistics and manufacturing sector in the UAE, according to statista, this will give these sector an extra AED2.4-billion to reinvest.
  The insurance policy in the new system covers the workers’ end of service benefits, vacation allowance, overtime allowance, unpaid wages, return air ticket and cases of work injury, in which the insurance coverage amounts to Dh20,000 a person.
  The scheme is aimed at securing workers’ rights in the private sector and reducing the burden on employers, allowing businesses across the UAE to recover about AED14 billion in guarantees, freeing up capital for other purposes such as reinvestment.
  Sheikh Mohammed said on twitter the new legislation will support the UAE's goal of “remaining in the highest global rankings for ease of doing business, through an attractive economy based on flexibility, openness and in line with changing trends”.
  “The UAE is among the ten most competitive countries in the world and our goal is to remain a top destination for ease of doing business, through an agile economy based on flexibility and openness. A strong economy drives us as a nation to be among the first and best,” he said.
  These latest moves come amid a flurry of revised regulations aimed at boosting investor confidence in the UAE economy, including a raft of cancelled fees in aviation, and new business ownership rules that will eventually allow 100% foreign ownership of businesses outside of free zones.