Ministers must scale huge obstacles to reform failing and decrepit jails
London’s Wormwood Scrubs prison, which inspectors have described as an institution in dire and desperate need. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA
The report into Wormwood Scrubs prison by HM Inspector of Prisons highlights the challenges faced by the government in its stated intent to commit to a sustained prison reform agenda.
The report, following the prison’s inspection during November and December 2015, describes an institution in dire and desperate need. Hardly any progress had been made since the previous inspection 18 months earlier.
It found that safety had deteriorated, levels of violence and official use of force were twice as high as comparative prisons and there had been two suicides since the last inspection. The majority of the prisoners were locked in their cells for more than 22 hours a day and the prison had a “significant rat problem”.
The Minister of Labour:
Upon review of Federal Law (1) of 1972 on the mandates of ministries and the powers granted to ministers and of Federal Law (8) of 1980 and its amendments on the regulation of labour relations;
And of the Council of Ministers’ Decree (25) of 2010 on internal work permits that are granted by the Ministry of Labour to workers who are active in the labour market;
And of Decree (826) of 2005 issued by the minister of Labour on rules implementing the transfer of sponsorship;
And of Ministerial decree (707) of 2006 on terms and procedures for granting non-nationals permits to engage in employment in the UAE;
And of ministerial Decree (724) of 2006 on administrative termination of sponsorships;
And of Ministerial Decree (1186) of 2010 on the rules and conditions for granting permission to a worker whose employment relation has ended to work for a new employer;
And of Ministerial Decree (422) of 2015 on the rules and conditions governing the termination of an employment relation.
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