Dubai Customs receives Social Accountability certificate SA8000

It entails ensuring a safe and fair workplace to the employees who work at the organizations that own the certificate.

This standard mainly aims at enhancing work conditions at government and non-government organizations around the world. It was designed and developed, according to local regulations and legislations, by the Social Accountability International organization (SAI); a non-profit organization which aims to develop Social Accountability standards and encourage to uphold them.

Dubai Customs is considered the first government department to receive this international certificate in Dubai. Such an honour enhances the Department's reputation as a keen government organization that offers a healthy and safe work atmosphere for its employees, increase their career satisfaction, boost productivity and provide quality services to its clients.

H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Dubai Customs Director General received the certificate, at the Department's headquarters where he received the delegation of the certificate provider organization.

The organization commended Dubai Customs work conditions and practices that helped increase employees' corporate loyalty. The organization conducted a number of external scrutiny operations on several departments and customs centers in two phases through which implemented procedures and employees' awareness of the system and its significance were examined to check compatibility with the standard's requirements.

H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed, said:

"Dubai Customs is keen on enhancing work conditions for the employees increasing their satisfaction and attracting others to join this healthy workplace throughout the past few years inline with Dubai government directions of giving employees more attention in order to enlarge their productivity. Receiving such a certificate is considered an international recognition for realizing principles and rights and keeping promises to the employees. It also reflects on the positive feedback of the recently launched initiatives by Dubai Customs and the efforts made in terms of social development."

H.E. Dubai Customs Director General added, "We consider our external clients genuine work partners, our objectives will not be met unless we provide them with the best services. Successful, well-qualified and well-driven employees are the key to success and excellence we aim to achieve. Such a goal cannot be attained unless work conditions and abilities were developed providing a work environment that gives the chance to the creative and innovative employees to invest their energies to the optimum, besides adopting fair promotion calibers. All the aforementioned points are vital factors that increase career satisfaction."

H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed pointed out that in addition to the financial and moral support, the Department takes a great deal of interest in safety and security requirements at the different premises, "We implement a comprehensive system of professional health and safety management that meets the highest quality standards including OHSAS :18001," he said.

H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed greeted the Department's employees on this new accomplishment and he expressed his appreciation towards the team that carried out the project as he awarded the team's members during the certificate awarding ceremony.

SA 8000 is the first international standard in the field of Social Accountability. It consists of a number of requirements that constitute a major source for assessing and enhancing current practices that have to do with Social Accountability based on the international agreements and norms.