New draft law offer Better conditions for UAE house maids

The Federal National Council (FNC) approved a draft federal law on domestic workers during its 16th legislative session held 30th May under the chairmanship of Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, President of the Council.

The new draft law comes as part of the UAE's continuous efforts to provide the best living conditions for its residents. It also aims to enact special legislation to regulate all issues and procedures related to helping workers, while safeguarding their rights and duties and spelling out procedures for their recruitment.

The council stressed the importance of the draft law in regulating the relationship between employers, workers and recruitment agencies. It has a provision prohibiting the recruitment or employment of any worker under the age of 18, and also prohibits non-citizens to act as a broker for the recruitment of workers.

The worker may not be recruited or employed except in accordance with the conditions, controls and procedures provided for in this law, it adds.

The draft law also says the recruitment office is obliged not to bring the worker from his country unless he declares the type of work, its nature, the amount of the comprehensive wage and the availability of proof of fitness, health, psychological, professional and other conditions determined by the executive regulations of this law.

It stipulates that the worker has the right to a weekly rest day and compensated adequately if he/she has to work on an off. The worker is entitled to annual leave for 30 days for each year. According to the draft law, the worker has the right to sick leave for a period of not more than 30 days in the contractual year.

The amended draft law also requires the recruitment offices to bear the expenses of returning the worker to his country. The workers have the right to keep their official documents such as passports. And the recruitment offices should bear the expenses of returning the worker to his/her country.

Facial, iris scans to help reduce need for U.A.E ID cards

Third generation integrated bio-metric data for ID cards will be launched by the UAE in the next four to five years, a top official said on Wednesday.

This means, people will not be asked to carry their ID cards, the official told the Federal National Council. “The 3rd generation integrated biometric data for ID cards, to be launched by the UAE within the next four to five years, will use iris prints and facial prints along with fingerprints for identification verification,” Dr Saeed Abdullah Bin Mutlaq Al Gafli, Director General of the Emirates Identity Authority, told the House as he was answering a question from Salem Ali Al Shehi, a member from Ras Al Khaimah.

Dr Al Gafli added that in five years’ time people will not be asked to carry their ID cards as the new technology will allow identity verification without the ID card.

The Emirates Identity Authority endeavours to upgrade systems to meet requirements of the UAE’s fourth generation of the government excellence system — the first of its kind across the globe that focuses on results and was designed to develop government performance.

Dr Al Gafli said a new target has been set for the government by 2018 to allow 80 per cent of those who use government services to access them via mobile devices as the Emirates Identity Authority works to achieve the full potential of the ID card at both the individual and institutional levels through the innovative ID card reader software and the ID card data reader via mobile phones and tablets software via the Near Field Communication (NFC) technique.

The innovative ID card reader software is an innovation based on a range of integrated software that deal with the ID card in several languages and that are compatible with various types of smart card reader devices. It enables government and private entities to deal with the ID card and read the contents of its smart chip easily based on smart platforms.

“The software also enables all service providers to deal with the ID card via smart devices and on all platforms [Apple, Android, BlackBerry, Windows] so that the various entities can take advantage of the Emirates ID Authority’s digital ratification gate services to support their ability to provide their smart e-services via various smart phones by using the ID card in accordance with the highest standards of security and credibility in dealing with individuals and identifying them through cyberspace,” Dr Al Gafli said.

The technology is made available for Abu Dhabi Police, etisalat and du, according to Dr Al Gafli.

The ID card data reader software, through the Near Field Communication (NFC) technique, allows reading the ID card’s smart chip data using mobile phones or tablets of all types without having to use a traditional card reader device, as the ID card can be recognised by the device used at only 4 cm from the back of the device and the data stored on the electronic chip will then be read and uploaded to the entity’s system or the software used by the concerned entity or person.

This software provides the institutions and entities of different areas an advanced and easy way to obtain the personal data needed to complete their customers transactions within seconds, which contribute to save time and effort required for data entry and transaction completion and to avoid errors that occur during data entry by traditional means.

In May 2015, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced that 96 per cent of citizen services in the government’s 337 most important departments had successfully gone mobile.

UAE’s non-Muslim expats now register a will

Non-Muslim expatriates can now dictate where they want their assets to go when they die, after a decision to change rules governing wills. The changes will ensure there is no dispute or confusion over a deceased’s belongings and custody of children, and expats can register a will for about Dh500.

Abu Dhabi has had no way of registering wills drafted in the UAE or an expat’s home country.

Only Sharia was applied.

In most cases, a court would freeze the assets to ensure all heirs were contacted before the estate was split up, resulting in long delays and high legal costs. Yousef Al Ibri, Undersecretary at the judicial department, said the move was recognition of the "realistic needs" of all sectors of society in Abu Dhabi.

It laid down the legislative framework to protect the rights and freedoms of people of different faiths.

Mr Al Ibri said these rights would now be protected under the state’s constitution, "which affirms the enjoyment of foreigners of rights and freedoms prescribed in international charters".

 "This will have a positive effect on attracting people of distinguished expertise to work and live in Abu Dhabi," he said. "This decision will constitute a quality leap towards enhancing the competitive position of Abu Dhabi emirate, establishing it as an ideal destination for residence and investment."

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, approved the changes that came into effect on Tuesday.

Wills in Abu Dhabi will also be registered in English, not Arabic.

Dubai International Financial Centre’s Wills and Probate Registry, which is linked to the Dubai Government, is the only registration system for wills in the Middle East and North Africa. It has registered 2,500 wills since its inception in 2015.

Sean Hird, director of DIFC Wills and Probate Registry, said the announcement of a registry of wills and probate in Abu Dhabi was a positive move for people living and investing in the emirate. "At DIFC, we have been providing eligible individuals with the option for the past two years and now offer various options for people to protect their assets in Dubai and now RAK," said Mr Hird.

"We hope this encourages asset owners to tackle their significant ‘life admin’ by thinking ahead to safeguard their assets."

The death of a breadwinner or homeowner can mean assets being frozen for months, and tens of thousands of dirhams in legal fees, particularly in the event of a dispute.

Some Abu Dhabi law firms have been writing invalid wills for expats, despite the documents having no legal standing.

Hesham Elrafei, a legal consultant and founder of the UAE legal portal Lex Animata, said the cost of registering a will in Abu Dhabi was expected to be negligible.

Mr Elrafei said those with property on Reem, Yas and Saadiyat islands would also be able to ensure their properties were distributed without dispute.

"This is an affordable service, which will not exceed Dh500 a will and the door is now open for all non-Muslims living in Abu Dhabi to register as per their choice," he said.

"This is to secure and protect their assets and properties in Abu Dhabi, which includes real estate, bank accounts, stocks, cars and end-of-service gratuity.

"A non-Muslim expat can now easily register his will in English to whoever he chooses to, whether his wife, daughter or any member of the family."

FAWRI - UAE Government e-Visa online application system

 

This online system allows companies to apply, re-apply, track and complete their immigration procedures for issuing visas from the comfort of their office.

From 1st April 2013, all employment entry permit/visa applications had to be submitted online using the username and password of the registered establishment and companies must apply and pay for FAWRI. Hard copies of the ‘pink’ employment entry permit were no longer be issued from Immigration. These entry permits can now be printed directly from the online system once it has been submitted and approved. All companies need to be registered at Immigration to obtain their usernames and passwords.

Subscribe features in the system (Fawri)

•     You do not need Impost service
•     Visa is obtained immediately
•     You do not need to sponsor’s signature

    Required document to participate in Fawri:

•      Copy of the business license
•     Copy of the firm card
•     To Whom It May Concern from the authorised signatory inscribed in the firm
•     To Whom It May Concern certificate from the company to use the Fawri system
•     The sponsor or representative (PRO) contact numbers.

    Automated payment service

 

    Issuance of Entry Permits for Workers in Government Sector.

    Issuance of Entry Permits for Workers in Private Sector.

    Issuance of Mission Permits for 90 Days.

    Issuance of Short Visit Entry Permits for 30 days.

    Issuance of Long Visit Entry Permits for 90 days.

    Issuance of Tourism Entry Permits.

    Issuance and Renewal of Residency.

Included Emirates:

    Abu Dhabi

    Sharjah

    Ras Al Khaimah

    Um Al Qaiwain

    Fujairah

    Al Ain

 

Late in 2014 FAWRI costs went up – in Abu Dhabi, there is now an AED 2000 Fee plus AED 5000 Deposit required. From 1st September 2015, ALL companies in Dubai will also have to now register with FAWRI as well.

From December 2016, onwards In Abu Dhabi when making employment entry permits/visa applications, Immigration is now checking that companies have correctly registered for FAWRI and have paid the AED 2060 Initial Fee plus the AED 5050 Deposit. Companies will need to submit proof that this has been done in the form of their initial deposit receipt. In addition, there is now an annual fee for the eVisa FAWRI system of AED 1200 payable by all companies in Abu Dhabi.

FAWRI includes the following services

    Entry Permits

    Mission Visas – 90 Days

    Short Visit Entry Permits / Visas – 30 days

    Long Visit Entry Permits / Visas – 90 days

    Tourism Visas / Entry Permits

    Issuance and Renewal of Resident Visas