Insecure environment at work site, UAE ministry rejects work visas for women

The Ministry of Labour has rejected several applications by employers for new work visas for women in line with existing laws which ban the employment of females at insecure job sites.

The Ministry told employers at companies located at an industrial zone in Dubai that it would not grant work permits for women because of the “unsafe and insecure work environment at that site,” Alkhaleej daily said.

Article-30 No women shall be employed on any job that is hazardous, arduous or physically or morally detrimental or on any other work as may be specified in a resolution by the Minister, after consulting the concerned authorities.

“The Ministry of Labour stressed that it would not give any exceptions in this respect…it said its decision followed field visits by its inspectors to those sites,” the Sharjah-based Arabic language daily said.

“The Ministry affirmed its commitment to laws which ban the employment of women at certain work sites to ensure their safety.”

The report said the Ministry also made clear women cannot work at night at most sites except in emergency cases and in medical and related jobs.

Article-28 No women shall be required to work at night. The term “at night” refers to the period from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

The paper noted that UAE labour laws prohibit the employment of women at mines and other underground work sites as well as fireworks factories, welding workshops and other dangerous fields.

You can sponsor housemaid only if you have a maid's room

Adnan Al Hamady of Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department, confirmed that two attested certificates are needed to sponsor anyone on visa to UAE - the first is a rent contract attested by the Dubai Municipality or Ajman Municipality or Sharjah Municipality, depending on where you reside.

The rent contract must explain how many rooms are there and if there is a room for the housemaid or not, if applying for a housemaid visa.

The DNRD has details of sponsor's family, so it can determine the number of people who live in the house against the information on the number of rooms provided in the tenancy contract, he added.

The second paper needed as a sponsor is the water and electricity bill attested by the provider from the same emirate where the resident lives.

Hamad Hassan, Manager of the DNRD Director-General's office, told Emirates24|7 that if anyone wants to sponsor for visit or transit visa, then they
have to provide a copy of their passport with Visa page and certificate of salary and the attested rent contract and utility bills.

The same is the requirement for bringiing in house help such as houemaids, gardeners, drivers etc., he added.

A typing office representative said a photocopy of sponsor's and visitor's passports are also needed, one passport size photograph of the visitor and
Labour contract of the sponsor are also needed, for visit visas.

For housemaids, same is the requirement, plus the rent and utility bills. For one month's visit, the visa fee is Dh720. For three months, it is
Dh1,270.

The sponsor also has to pay a guarantee of Dh2,000, which is refundable after vistor has gone from the UAE.

For housemaid, work visa costs Dh270 and Dh2,000 guarantee after housemaid's visa is cancelled. When housemaid comes here, sposnor has to pay a fee of Dh5,000. Housemaid visas have a renewable validity of one year.

Resident visa rule change in UAE -house rent contract requiered for renewing the Visa

Foreigners residing in Abu Dhabi as well as those who work in the capital and live in other emirates must also present a rent copy along with other documents required for their visa extension, the semi official Arabic language daily Alitthad said, quoting Major General Nassir Al Minhali, Ministry of Interior assistant undersecretary for naturalization and residence.

“All expatriates in the UAE are now required to submit a copy of their house rent contract when they want to have their visa renewed…they should also present valid water or power bills to support that contract,” he said.

“This is part of a new data system enforced by the Ministry of Interior…we need accurate and comprehensive data regarding the expatriates residing in the country…this is very important as this data base will also serve applicants in their dealings with other departments,” he added.

He said the new term affects families and bachelors and that residents of other emirates are also required to submit a copy of the rent contract.

“Those who work for Abu Dhabi-based companies and live in other emirates must bring a copy of the contract of their rent in those emirates…expatriates seeking to have their visa renewed in Abu Dhabi are not required to be living in the emirate…all they have do to is to bring a copy of their rent contract.”

Typing centres confirmed that the requirements are the same in other emirates, too. The Immigration Department has a new documentation requirements for  individuals sponsoring dependents whether it's a new visa or renewal, documents are: Original tenancy contract attested by the municipality of the Emirate (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah etc.).  The tenancy contract must be under the name of the sponsor. Also needed is the latest electricity bill or if it is a new contract, the deposit receipt.

This new policy also applies to sponsoring housemaids, drivers, parents, etc.

Some expatriates who share apartments are unhappy with the new rule. Some of them are of the opinion that this will add undue pressure to their budgets, as they will now have to look for independent accommodation. Said one extremely disturbed worker, "I earn just about Dh4,500 and have to support a family of 16 back home. With this new rule, I'm very uncertain of my future."

Meanwhile, some are optimistic the rule will be amended considering the hardships it would entail on numerous expats. One resident said: "My visa is valid for more than a year. Am sure by then there would be more amicable amendments made to the rule."

More than seven million expatriates are believed to be living in the UAE, with a total population of around 8.2 million in mid 2010, according to the Statistics Bureau.

UAE set to have its first anti-corruption law to end financial malpractices and corruption

The UAE is set to have its first anti-corruption law as the second largest Arab economy is pushing ahead with plans to become more transparent and end financial malpractices and other offences related to corruption.

The state Audit Bureau will enact the Gulf country’s first anti-corruption law as per instruction by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to fulfill the country’s commitment to UN charter on corruption.

“The Bureau will draw up an anti-corruption law and we urge all competent departments to join hands to ensure this law will see light and is implemented successfully,” the Bureau’s chairman, Hareb bin Saeed Al Amimi, said.

“This law will greatly support the UAE’s efforts to fight corruption and related offences, protect public funds and better utilize national resources for comprehensive development,” he told the semi-official daily Alittihad.

The Bureau is currently the UAE’s sole anti-corruption authority. Created by late President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, it has played a major role in safeguarding public funds and curbing financial malpractices.The Bureau has recorded many cases involving misappropriation of federal finds since it was set up in the 1990s and has succeeded in recovering large sums of money wasted by some departments although it had not reported any arrests.But in a recent statement, the Bureau said it had detected more illegal financial operations at federal offices and informed the attorney general about such offences and those involved so they can be prosecuted.

“Over the past year, we have uncovered some financial abuses related to corruption and misappropriation of funds at federal level….several employees are involved in such operations and they are have been referred to the public prosecutor,” Amimi said in press remarks in 2011.

“We are pursuing our monitoring assignment at the instructions and with the support of the supreme authorities…we will exert strenuous efforts to preserve the public funds in line with the intensified measures undertaken by the UAE to combat all forms of corruption and other financial offences.”

In another statement earlier, the Bureau said it had unveiled major fiscal offences at federal government establishments involving nearly Dh300 million in fiscal year 2007-2008  but said all the funds had been recovered. It said many civil servants were involved in what it described as illegal financial practices.Officials said recently cases involving abuse of public funds have sharply declined thanks to intensified auditing and anti-corruption measures.

As a result, the UAE has been classified by several global rating and research organization as having one of the lowest corruption rates in the developing world. Other Gulf oil produces have taken measures to set up the war against corruption following the 2008 global fiscal distress.Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy and the world’s oil powerhouse, announced last year the establishment of an anti-corruption body on orders by King Abdullah following reports of widespread financial offences.

Other Gulf countries said they were taking steps to widen anti-corruption measures and boost transparency at public departments.“The instructions by the President to issue the anti-corruption law illustrate the leadership’s keenness to combat financial malpractices, which are alien to our society and to curb any practices that violate Islamic law,” Amimi said.ends

Employee six months out of country for Labour Card cancellation

UAE employees who stay outside the Emirates for more than six months can have their labour cards cancelled. This was revealed at the weekly labour ministry meeting, according to 'Al Ittihad' newspaper. Companies must submit proof of absence along with documents of due settlement. The ministry officials refused to accept an employer's request to cancel an Arab's labour card who has been outside the country for only five months.

The company was asked to wait for another month and then submit the proof of the worker’s absence to the department of naturalisation and residency along with  documents to prove settlement of all his dues. Only then can the employer apply  for cancellation of the worker's labour card.

Amending Labour Contract

Addressing another case, ministry officials clarified that companies can amend  labour contracts - change names of professions or salaries - only in the presence of the  employees concerned. Else it will be considered a violation of labour rights.

Temporary work permit

Issuance of temporary work permits would depend on the type of labour dispute and  would be considered by the ministry only once the case has been referred to the  labour court. Once the terms and conditions as stipulated by the labour laws are adhered to, the ministry reserves the right to issue temporary work permits without the approval of employers. Similarly, the worker in dispute, need not necessarily have a residence visa provided it is proved that the case has been  referred from the labour court.

Job transfer

Workers under three skill levels can end their contract without an agreement with  the employer even before completing two years. They include employees who have a  bachelor's degree and earns a minimum Dh12,000; or diploma holders with Dh7,000  monthly salary; and those who possess secondary school certificate earning  Dh5,000.

Meanwhile, officials approved a request of a company to hire as director a British  who has no university degree but holds a certificate from a institute which he  attended for three years after high school.

Explaining its decision, the labour committee, including Khalil Khouri, Director  of work permits, and Saleh Al Jabri, Director of the Unit of facilities in Abu  Dhabi, said in this case the employee has 10 years’ experience in the same job at  the headquarters of the company in his country.