14,355 people caught for visa violations in U.A.E

A total of 14,355 people violating visa rules — including 801 border jumpers — were caught during investigations and searches in the first four months of this year, the Ministry of the Interior said.

The ministry warned against dealing with visa violators and border jumpers as they are a group which has "broken the law" in the words of Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Minhali, Deputy director of Naturalisation, Residency and Checkpoints Affairs at the ministry.

He also said that the department responsible for following up these issues was able to hold 1275 infiltrators and violators between April 22 and 28.Al Minhali also announced that inspection teams affiliated to the department will continue their work relentlessly to bring border jumpers to justice, and warned whoever shelters violators would be subject to legal procedures.

ID card mandatory to avail all traffic services across U.A.E from May 2

From Sunday, ID cards issued by the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) will be mandatory to use any traffic and licensing services across the country, officials have announced.In a statement issued on Friday and carried by WAM, the Emirates News Agency, the Interior Ministry said that applications submitted to the various traffic departments in the country will be rejected if the applicant has no ID card.

Since November last year, residents of Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain — both nationals and expatriates — have been required to produce the ID card to access services such as such as vehicle registration, and renewal. From May 2, officials are extending this decision to cover the remaining three emirates — Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

Brigadier Gaith Hassan Al Za'abi, Director of the Traffic Department at the Interior Ministry called on all members of the public to register and complete procedures to obtain the ID cards at the earliest to avoid inconvenience.

Apart from being unable to use certain government transactions, no further fines will be issued, at least for the time being.Officials said they hope the denial of these essential services will urge the residents who still haven't obtained the card to come forward.

Obligatory

The Law of Population Register and Identity Card makes it obligatory for all citizens and residents of the UAE above the age of 15 to obtain the ID card for identification in various transactions.

But when contacted, Ahmad Hashim Al Behroozian, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Licensing Agency of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said that they had not so far received any instruction from the Ministry of Interior to only consider Emirates ID as proof of personal identity to complete any transaction.

"We will continue to work as normal and presenting [an] Emirates Identity Card will not be mandatory for applicants to complete their traffic, licensing and vehicle registration related transactions," said Al Behroozian

Kenya seeks end to visa row after Dubai rulers expelled

Kenya's foreign minister is in Dubai to defuse a row after members of the Gulf state's ruling family were deported as terror suspects.

The four were on holiday from Dubai in Kenya's resort of Mombasa over Easter, when immigration officers interrogated them for hours before expelling them.

The United Arab Emirates responded by tightening visa requirements - and only accepts Kenyan university graduates. The ban has hit many traders, who usually buy their goods from Dubai.

The BBC's Ruth Nesoba in Nairobi says second-hand cars and fabrics from Dubai are particularly popular with Kenyan businessmen.

Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula and his delegation of officials arrived in the UAE on Monday but the talks were deadlocked and so they have been extended.

Last week, deputy foreign minister Richard Onyonka apologised on the BBC's Swahili service for the "stupid mistake" of the officials.

Kenya's Standard newspaper reports that some 37,000 Kenyans live in the UAE, mostly Dubai.

Labour law violations is criminal offence -The Ministry of Labour U.A.E

The Ministry of Labour yesterday said that any violation of the text of the labour law is a criminal offence that merits punishment starting from suspension of a company's licence and fine to referral to the Public Prosecution.

The ministry acted in response to a complaint by an Asian worker during the Open Day, presided over by Acting Director-General Humaid bin Deemas.

The worker said she was asked to choose either termination of services or reduction of her salary to Dh1,500 from Dh2,500 as promised in her contract.

Bin Deemas told the worker she had the right, in case she refused the cut in her salary, to move to a job elsewhere. The ministry will give her a temporary permit to help find a new job, said the official. The ministry will also ensure the worker's former sponsor is made to give her everything that is hers by right, he added.

UAE only country to pass legislation to give workers a better deal in Mideast

Former U.S President Bill Clinton hailed the progress made by the United Arab Emirates on protecting the rights of expatriate workers, empowering women as well as on clean energy and environmental protection.

Speaking on the situation in the Middle East in a interview with ABC News on April 18th, the current situation in the Middle East, Clinton said the UAE "is the only the only country with huge amounts of imported workers that's actually passed legislation to give these immigrant workers a better deal in the Middle East." "They've got women in the government. They have a joint public-private decision making process," the former U.S president added.

Clinton also noted the UAE's successful bid to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency, or IRENA, in Abu Dhabi and the emirate's plans to build Masdar City, the world's first carbon neutral city.

"UAE wins the international competition for the clean energy agency. And they're going to build a carbon neutral city in the UAE," he said. – Emirates News Agency, WAM