Visitors found working will face ban for life

Visitors found working will face ban for life
By Ahmed Abdul Aziz and Lana Mahdi/ KHALEEJ TIMES 13 September 2007

ABU DHABI — Expatriates who entered the country on visit visas and are found working in companies will face a life ban, Assistant Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Labour (MoL) Obaid Rashid Al Zahmi stated yesterday.

“The ministry is studying imposing punishments on violators of labour rules and finally decided that visit visa holders, if found working in the country, will face a life ban,” explained Al Zahmi.

The decision was taken after MoL inspectors found that people on visit visas were still working in the country.

During the inspection campaign, which began immediately after the amnesty period ended on September 2, the inspectors found more than 250

companies violating the law by employing visit visa holders.

Al Zahmi pointed out that the companies must abide by the law when they need to import manpower.

“They must apply for the renewable temporary work permit of three-month validity, or get employment visa,” he added. This will protect the labourers’ rights because if they work on a visit visa they cannot demand their dues and rights.

The workers who come on employment visa or temporary work permit can go to the MoL and demanding their rights, including cost of medical treatment in case of an accident.

In another important announcement yesterday, Al Zahmi said the ministry will from January 2008 stop issuing work permits to companies which do not open bank accounts for their employees.

Opening of bank accounts for workers is being made compulsory to ensure protection of workers’ rights, he added.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of Naturalisation and Residency Department in Al Ain, Col. Nasir Al Awady Al Minhaly, said that during Ramadan the department will work in two shifts from 9.00am to 2.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm.