New property residence visas UAE

From 01 June 2009, the UAE will implement a new system of residence visas for UAE property owners which supersedes the old property investor residence visa that was valid in Dubai, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah (previously there was no residence visa based on expat property ownership in Abu Dhabi). According to a WAM report on 02 May 2009, a new paragraph will be added to "Article 33 of the executive regulations of the entry and residency law for entry and residency of foreigners", and a new article, number 34, will be included in the by-law specifying the conditions of the new visa.
UAE multi-entry visa valid for 6 months at a time, permits multiple entries to the UAE. Commonly referred to as a residence visa but not clear if that's the official term. The difference in terminology might be significant. Property owner residence visa can be renewed indefinitely but the visa holder must exit the UAE and re-apply. The applicant can apply right away rather than wait for a month outside the UAE, according to information on 05 May 2009. Update 03 August 2009: according to a WAM news report "... when the multi visit visa issued to a property owner expires abroad, his/her visa will be renewed at the airport at arrival." Cost of six-month UAE residence visa is AED 2,000. Renewal cost is the same. Minimum salary requirement of investor is AED 10,000 per month, or equivalent. Not clear if income must be sourced only from outside the UAE - conflicting reports seen. Property value must be at least AED 1 million. Appears to be based on purchase price (evidence needs to be shown) rather than original price or current market value. Medical insurance is required for investor and familiy members applying for residence visa under property ownership scheme. Property must be complete, and title deed in visa applicant's name has been obtained. Joint property owners cannot apply for residence visa (in contrast to the previous system which allowed first named owner to apply). Direct family members (spouse, children) can be included under the property owner's sponsorship. Not clear if primary sponsor must be male, if there is an maximum age limit for children, or if family members can travel in and out of the UAE independently. Property must be of an appropriate size to house family members if applicable i.e. a family of 4 is unlikely to be granted a visa if the property is a studio flat (not that there are many studios over AED 1 million in the UAE). Property residence visa holders under the previous system must change their visa to the new system from 01 June 2009 otherwise they will be regarded as being in breach of UAE immigration laws (bad luck if you just got your 3 year visa in April 2009). Property owners (and family) might be required to have to have a medical test as with other residence visas (visitors with short term entry permits do not have to do a medical test). Unknown if property residence visa holders can apply for UAE driving licences, bank accounts, telephone connections, etc. Other residence visa holders can, and previous property residence visa holders could. If the new visa is a "visit" visa rather than a "residence" visa, then probably not.

'UAE committed to protecting labour rights'

The UAE Government insists on strict implementation of all laws governing the labour market so that the rights of all parties are protected, Minister of Labour said. The Minister of Labour Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash on Sunday made the remark during a tour of a labour complex of one of the major companies operating in the country. The ministry had earlier recorded a number of labour law violations by the company for failure to provide standard accommodation facilities to its workers in accordance with the country's rules and regulations. He said there are good indications that proprietors are beginning to be very aware of the need for them to abide by the rules strictly and to shoulder their responsibilities, both ethically and legally. The minister was accompanied by Humaid bin Deemas, acting director-general in the Ministry of Labour, and Inspection Department CEO Mahir Al Obed. Ghobash pointed out that the UAE leadership attaches great priority to the dignity of each individual and to the civil rights of all. He cited a number of initiatives taken in this regard to safeguard those rights. He said it is the responsibility of his ministry to ensure that those initiatives were strictly implemented. He pointed out that owners of companies currently operating in the country had been given five years to rectify their situation, taking into consideration the needs and challenges in the labour market and the environment. He said the ministry will never compromise, during the transition period, on the need to abide by the minimum standard of housing and accommodation rules and regulations in accordance with the provision made by Cabinet Resolution No. 13 of 2009.

UAE is committed to protect rights of workers: Ghobash

The UAE is very conscious of the contribution contractual workers make to its economy and in return is committed to protecting their rights and to empower them to fully benefit from their residency in the country, UAE Labour Minister H.E Saqr Ghobash affirmed yesterday. "We would like to open an honest debate about the nature and scope of essential social services that could and ought reasonably to be provided to temporary migrant workers, bearing in mind the cost-benefit implications for all involved,” Ghobash told the opening plenary session of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Athens, Greece. The Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) is an annual international meeting for voluntary, non-binding and informal discussion which investigates the methods through which migration may contribute towards development goals. The GFMD was held in Brussels in 2007 and in Manila in 2008. He said participants in this Forum need to acknowledge that migratory patterns are very diverse and that policy responses must, in consequence be flexible and adaptable. "Given the nature of its labour market needs, the UAE has a particular interest in models of migration that are labour-oriented and of a temporary or circular nature. Nevertheless, it recognizes that there is much that can be learned from good practices deriving from other, and sometimes very different models of migration. "The important thing for us is not to play up the differences between migration models to suggest that "we have our unique circumstances and you have yours" but rather to promote a common and better understanding of the various contexts and particularities that need to be taken into account in the development of sound policy, he told the gathering being held this year under the theme "Integrating migration policies into development strategies for the benefit of all'. "We need to weigh up the costs and benefits of migration from the standpoint of all stakeholders if we are to make migration truly beneficial to all. It goes without saying that, in the course of doing so, the fundamental human rights of all people are not to be considered negotiable Following is the full text of Ghobash's address to the conference: Minister of Labour, United Arab Emirates Madam Chairperson, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen The theme that has been chosen for this year's Global Forum on Migration and Development, "Integrating migration policies into development strategies for the benefit of all," is both timely and relevant. In an increasingly inter-dependent world, the movement of people is not only possible but necessary to meet the goals of global development. The ultimate goal for governments should indeed be to manage it for the benefit of all. But how and by which means can participants in this Forum contribute to the achievement of this goal? In September this year, there was a spirited discussion among the Steering Group and Friends of the Forum colleagues, triggered by the current Chair's reflection paper on the "Future of the Forum", particularly on the issue of the desired outcomes of GFMD. Understandably, there is an interest on the part of all parties that this process be focused, that it be productive, non-redundant and sustainable. I should like to share with you our own thoughts about how this might best be achieved. First, in common with many other stakeholders the UAE considers that the essential value of the Forum lies in it being a platform for open and non-prescriptive sharing of views, of ideas, and especially of policy experimentation. This openness of communication needs to be maintained. It has been an essential ingredient in the GFMD's success to date. Let us continue to hear, in a climate of mutual trust and respect, about what has been learned through research and practice, about policy initiatives that have been attempted and lessons that have been drawn. Second, we, participants in this Forum, need to acknowledge that migratory patterns are very diverse and that policy responses must, in consequence be flexible and adaptable. Given the nature of its labour market needs, the UAE has a particular interest in models of migration that are labour-oriented and of a temporary or circular nature. Nevertheless, it recognizes that there is much that can be learned from good practices deriving from other, and sometimes very different models of migration. The important thing for us is not to play up the differences between migration models to suggest that "we have our unique circumstances and you have yours" but rather to promote a common and better understanding of the various contexts and particularities that need to be taken into account in the development of sound policy. In this regard, the UAE is particularly grateful to the Government of Argentina for the spirit of partnership it has demonstrated in co-chairing with the UAE one of two sessions in Roundtable Two on "Migrant integration, reintegration and circulation for development". Third, I would emphasise that we must approach our conference theme with honesty and realism. The UAE is very conscious of the contribution contractual workers make to its economy and in return is committed to protecting their rights and to empower them to fully benefit from their residency in our country. We would like to open an honest debate about the nature and scope of essential social services that could and ought reasonably to be provided to temporary migrant workers, bearing in mind the cost-benefit implications for all involved. IOM's World Migration Report 2008 points to the dilemma inherent in the fact that if migrants enjoy the "full rights" laid down in international conventions, the costs to employers, governments and the migrants may well be higher, and fewer foreign workers may be sought by employers. This is particularly true of temporary and circular migrants. Perhaps one way of going forward in our discussions is to explore what might be a set of "core entitlements" for temporary and circular contractual workers as opposed to a broader set applicable to permanent migrants. We need to weigh up the costs and benefits of migration from the standpoint of all stakeholders if we are to make migration truly beneficial to all. It goes without saying that, in the course of doing so, the fundamental human rights of all people are not to be considered negotiable. Fourth, our deliberations must pave the way for cooperative approaches. In the past, States have often struggled with their migration challenges and priorities through individual effort, without considering the possibilities of inter-state cooperation, but they are coming to the realization that national-level efforts conducted in isolation reach much sooner rather than later a point of diminishing returns. The UAE is of the view that regional consultative processes continue to play an important confidence and consensus building role in this regard. With this need for international solidarity in mind, I would like to signal the UAE's willingness to provide support for the development of a GFMD research agenda that would inform a healthy policy debate and that could result in the formulation of sound policies in the future. We wish all the roundtables success in their work. It is a privilege for my Government to be actively involved in these discussions. Finally, I would like to express our appreciation to the Government of Greece for hosting the GFMD 2009 and for the leadership it provided in chairing the Forum over this past year. And we look forward to cooperating with the Government of Mexico for the GFMD 2010. - Emirates News Agency, WAM

Unpaid workers have the right to change their employer

If a worker does not receive his wages for a period of two months, he is free to transfer his sponsorship to another employer without the consent of his original employer, a senior official at the Labour Ministry said. Speaking shortly after the 'Weekly Open Meet' at the Ministry for settling labour dispute cases, Qassim Jamil, Director of Labour Guidance said that a mass complaint filed by 1474 workers for unpaid wages has been referred to the Labour circuit court in the emirate. At the open meet, the owner of the employing firm clarified that the workers have been paid their monthly wages for August and September 2009, and promised to pay the outstanding dues without delay. But the Labour Ministry said that the cases have already been referred to the competent court for a decision. Qassim Jamil said that the workers are not under any legal obligation to resume their work if they remain unpaid for a period of two months and are free to transfer their sponsorship to another employer even without the consent of the original employer. On another level, the ministry organised on Sunday a training workshop in Abu Dhabi for 40 labour inspectors with the aim of familiarising them with the ministry's plan for 2010 for intensifying labour inspections to root out violations. - Emirates News Agency, WAM

Expats face swine flu ban after holidays abroad - Healthcare - ArabianBusiness.com

Expats face swine flu ban after holidays abroad - Healthcare - ArabianBusiness.com: "Expats face swine flu ban after holidays abroad"
Expatriates in the UAE on holiday abroad will have to produce a medical certificate proving they are not infected with swine flu before returning to the country, according to a report on Tuesday.From August, any person with swine flu symptoms without the certificate would be refused entry to the UAE , said a source from the National Committee for Combating Swine Flu.

“Accordingly, any company or establishment will have the right to cancel sponsorship if the worker conceals an infection intentionally," the unnamed source was quoted as saying in a report by UAE daily Gulf News.The step was part of strict measures needed to contain the H1N1 virus, the source added.Quarantining people infected with the virus and not allowing them to come into contact with others in public locations such as markets, malls, cinemas and worship areas was vital to curbing the spread of the virus, the source said.The National Committee for Combating Swine Flu is a government organisation set up to fight the spread of the virus.