ABU DHABI, 14 May — The Labor and Social Affairs Ministry of the United Arab Emirates is finalizing a draft bill amending the country’s labor law issued as early as 1980. Representatives of the ministry are discussing the changes which might be introduced to the law with the Fatwa and Legislation Department, a source at the ministry told Khaleej Times yesterday. Denying press reports about plans to impose a quota system on the employment and training of UAE nationals in the private sector, the source said the draft which had been sent to the Fatwa and Legislation Department did not suggest such a move which he said will be "in conflict with the country’s free market policy". No major changes have been introduced in the draft concerning gratuity of expatriate employees since it was sent to the Fatwa and Legislation in February. Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Mattar Humaid Al-Tayer had announced the initial proposal to reduce gratuity to nine days for each year of service, which was changed to 15 days per year for the first five years of service and a full month per year after completion of 10 years with a company provided the total gratuity at the end of service did not exceed an amount equivalent to two years’ salary. Among the major changes introduced to the law are procedures being followed at present in granting employment visas to private companies which have so far been implemented as an internal policy. These procedures have been included in the proposed draft. They cover the rejection of an employment visa for an expatriate in the case of availability of a UAE national qualified for the position.