Labour ministry rethinks rules on changing jobs

Labour ministry rethinks rules on changing jobs
By Wafa Issa, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: January 10, 2008, 00:56

Dubai: Employees no longer need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer if they want to change jobs, once they have completed three years in a company, the Minister of Labour told Gulf News.

Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi said any person that has been with the same sponsor for more than three years does not need an NOC for shifting jobs.

"NOCs are not needed for employees who wish to change job upon completing three years, but the fees for transferring are still applied," said Al Ka'abi.

Not official

However, no ministerial decision has yet been issued in this regard, although the practice has been applied at the ministry of labour for the last four months.

Previously, the ministry required an NOC from any employee who wanted to change his job. In the absence of the certificate, a six-month ban was applied.

The NOC was not only needed for transferring sponsorship but was also requested from anybody who wished to continue working in the country after cancelling their work permit.

An NOC is still required from those who have not completed the three-year period. However, those who have not completed one year will have to pay a fee of Dh500 for each month remaining to complete the mandatory one-year period.

Charges: Changing sponsor

- PhD or MA holder moves to a company in category A: Dh1,500; category B: Dh2,500; category C: Dh3,500.

- BA holder or equivalent moves to a company in category A: Dh3,000; category B: Dh3,500; category C: Dh4,000.

- All others moving to a company in category A: Dh5,000; category B: Dh5,500; category C: Dh6,000.