In UAE six-month employment ban is still very much in force

Ministry says new law only makes job shift more flexible as it turns down several requests.New rules enforced by the UAE at the start of 2011 allowing workers to shift to another job still include a six-month ban on those who do not fully abide by the specified terms, the ministry of labour has said.

In a statement carried by the Arabic language daily Alkhaleej on Sunday, the ministry said it turned down applications in January by many workers who had left their employers and wanted to move to another sponsor because they failed to justify their move.

“Those workers mentioned some mistakes committed by their employers but they did not comply with the new cabinet decision nor did they know the measures that govern such a decision or the terms needed to be met in order to get consent by the ministry for their shifting to another employer,” it said.

The statement said the ministry found that those workers had quit their jobs without any real reason, trying to benefit from the new job transfer measures without clearly understanding them.

“This prompted the ministry to impose a six-month ban on them because an exemption of this ban will be granted only under the new regulations…the six-month ban is still in force but the new decision was introduced only to add some flexibility to job transfer under certain conditions and rules which should be enforced by the ministry of laour without any exception,” it said.

“Such condition must mainly include that the work contract between the employee and the employer should be terminated with the consent of both parties and the worker has competed at least two years in the job with that employer.”

But the ministry said such a condition could be excluded in case the employer breaks terms of the contract or fails to pay workers their wages for at least 60 days. Workers can also apply for transfer in case their establishment has shut down.

“Another case involves a court suit against the employer by the employee provided the court issues a sentence in favour of the employee…in any case, the worker should not quit the job without any reason or justification as this will result in a six-month ban.”

60-day work permits for first-time workers in UAE

Ministry of Labour has announced that new workers can now come to the UAE on work permits valid for 60 days, provided they are above 18 years of age and posses a passport valid for more than six months. Most importantly, the rule is applicable only to those who have never worked in the UAE before.Such work permits can be extended six times provided the fee and bank guarantee are paid before each expiry date. Expired work permits will incur a fine of Dh500 for every 10 days from the date of original expiry or the extended expiry date.

And in case of non-payment of fees and bank guarantee within 60 days, the permit will be automatically cancelled.UAE citizens and GCC nationals cannot apply under this permit.

Similarly, companies bringing such workers must possess a valid licence and the person in charge must possess the authority to have an electronic signature.Tasheel centres are authorised to issue such work permits

UAE Ministry of Labour approve requests for temporary work permits without employer’s consent

The Ministry of Labour will approve requests for temporary work permits without the consent of the former employer, as long as the residence visa and labour card of the applicant is valid.The ministry’s latest ruling came in reference to labour cases referred to it by the courts, according to a report in Al Khaleej newspaper.

The Ministry of Labor stated that it has received requests from workers for temporary work permits.

The ministry statement said, “The labourers confirmed in their applications that they are working for a private construction company and the project was stopped due to circumstances involving the company.“So they wanted to work, for a limited time, for another company till the conditions of their original company improved.”

According to the employment contract they were not allowed to work for anywhere else for the term of their contract - two years.However, the ministry granted temporary work permits because the company is not paying them wages on a monthly basis.

The ministry, however, requires that the workers submit documents proving that the current establishment has not paid the wages for two months or more, based on a report of the Office of Protection of Wages, or the Labour Relations department.

UAE Visit visa for immediate family member

Visit visas for immediate family members can be obtained by residents (called sponsors), whose monthly salary is not less than AED 4000 or AED 3000 + accommodation.

Validity of Visa:

Short term visa: 30 days

Long term visa: 90 days

No extensions are permitted beyond this period.

Fees

• Short term visa: AED 620 application fee + typing fees

• Long term visa: AED 1120 application fee+ typing fees

A deposit of AED 1000 to be paid, which can be reimbursed after your relative has left the country.

Documents Required:

• Typed Application form

• A copy of the sponsor’s passport & family member's passport

• 1 photo of the family member (may be required)

• Marriage contract attested from Ministry of Foreign Affairs or UAE Embassy (for sponsoring a wife or husband)

• Attested birth certificates (for sponsoring children)

• Relationship proof attested from the Embassy (in case relationship cannot be proved from family names in sponsor and relative's passport)

• Attested work contract if the sponsor is working in a private company or a salary certificate if working in government.

• Traveller Insurance.

Procedure:

1. Go to any authorized typing office & get application form typed.

2. Go to DNRD & submit along with your documents to Visa Section.

3. Send either original or copy to your relative. If only copy was sent, then deposit original at the airport or the DNATA counter at DNRD. It is advisable to deposit visa giving sufficient time for flight to land.

Dubai Network, a new social media networking website launched

January 21, 2011 -- Dubai Network, a new social media networking website was launched on January 14. It is the brainchild of W3informatics, an IT solutions company based in UAE.http://www.dubainetwork.com/

If you are tired of all the same old networking sites? Then Dubai Network is the best place to have fun and share ideas. The mission of dubainetwork.com is to connect people through a networking forum, where they can share their thoughts, pictures, videos and blogs.

Dubai Network is a social networking site designed to make your life more socialized and active. It helps you to establish relationships, providing the users the environment of face-to-face interaction with pictures and messages. The users can also start a new relation with the people whom they never met through Dubai Network. It is also a network which revives your school friendship or lost contact.

It is always easy in Dubai Network to find people who share your hobbies and interests, look for friendship, romantic relationship or establish new business contacts. You can also discuss the current events and happenings around the world by joining different groups. It is entirely up to you to decide what kind of people you want to get connected with and share your thoughts or joining a particular community depending on your interest.

Dubai Network, being youth-oriented and platform for healthy chat and sharing of thoughts doesn't encourage posting of unlawful, abusive, threatening, defamatory, vulgar, pornographic, profane or indecent information or material of any kind.

Posting or transmitting of any material containing virus or other harmful components is a strict no no in the website. Downloading any file posted by any other user of a Communication facility if you know, or reasonably ought to know, that the file cannot legally be distributed in such manner is also prohibited.Dubai Network from time to time, monitors or reviews the contents of its Communication Facilities.

If you are spontaneous and have a quick finger, then you could grab an opportunity to become a founder member of this fantabulous website.To join Dubai Network, register for free at dubainetwork.com and you can create your own profile right away. http://www.dubainetwork.com/