Unfit for work

The UAE is distinguished by its attractive environment for work and investment in various fields. This, in turn, brings us to the first axis in the field of occupational health, which is the pre-employment medical examination.

Since the examination mechanism differs between the citizen (and the Gulf national) on the one hand, and the rest of the nationalities on the other hand, today’s talk will be about the citizen and those of the same rank.

After passing the interview, the citizen job applicant begins to complete the employment procedures, and the medical examination is one of the parts. Here a question arises: What is being examined? Will the examination result change the employment decision?

Whether the job is office administrative work or engineering technical work, the examination is the same, a quick consultation with a doctor, a blood pressure and sugar test, a blood sample for venereal diseases, a urine sample and a chest x-ray. The result of the examination will be a score. Occupational health has another opinion. The doctor must know the type of work and job description in order to ensure that the employee’s health condition is suitable for the job. For example, a person with epilepsy applies for a job as a bus driver, a person suffering from multiple sclerosis applies for a job that requires a lot of movement, and the same applies to laboratory tests. Why do blood, urine and stool tests for everyone? The office administrator does not need any examination, but the surgeon needs to be tested for hepatitis and AIDS to prevent transmission of the virus during the operation. Someone will say: If the health condition does not match the job? In this case, the employer must provide support for the employee to do what is required, such as a wheelchair, a low desk, and other changes in the work environment. There is no individual who is unfit for work, but there is a work environment that is not appropriate for the employee’s health condition. In the worst case scenario, the job description may be changed or the employee may be transferred to a department that suits his needs.

And the rest of the conversation.

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