Young expats can take up part-time jobs from age 16

Young expats can take up part-time jobs from age 16 By Wafa Issa, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: January 02, 2008, 17:11

Dubai: Young residents, under the sponsorship of their parents or universities, can undertake part-time work, the Labour Minister told Gulf News.

Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Minister of Labour, has issued a decision that allows people from the age of 16 to undertake part-time job in the country.

"The decision aims to protect young people's rights and give them the opportunity to acquire labour market experience at an early age," said Al Ka'abi.

Earlier young expatriates, below 18 were not allowed to work in the country.

A part-time labour card also gives an opportunity to university students to get work experience before graduating, he added.

"Young people can now acquire a job if they meet the legal requirements, but they cannot work full-time until they reach 18," said Al Ka'abi.


The new decision stipulates that teenagers will be allowed to work for a total period of six hours and in all types of work except jobs where they are exposed to dangers or face the risk of harming their health.

Expatriate teenagers, who wish to join a job, will have to apply for a labour card at the ministry after getting their parents' approval.

"Legalising their employment will help the ministry to monitor violations closely and will ensure that teenagers work in a healthy atmosphere and under the supervision of their parents," said Al Ka'abi, adding that the decision will shortly be applied across the country after the ministry's system is updated to accept labour card for children at the age of 16.

Some types of jobs that are categorised as dangerous for health and in which child employment is prohibited (ministerial order No.5/1, 1981):

Work in mines and quarries
Work where ovens are used for melting mineral substances
Petroleum refining
Bakery ovens
Cement, ice-making and refrigerating plants
Mirror silvering with mercury
Explosives industry
Glass melting and blowing
Arc welding
Painting
Treatment and preparation or warehousing of ashes containing lead and extracting silver from lead
Making of tin (pewter) and metallic compositions containing more that 10 per cent lead
Making of prime oxide of lead (silicon), carbon oxide of lead, the orange lead, sulphates, chromate and silicates of lead
Operations involving mixing and preparation for repair of batteries
Operating or supervising operating machines or repairing or cleaning such machines while these are working
Asphalt work
Oil pressing by mechanical devices
Work involving fertilisers, metallic acids, laboratories and chemical products
Work in tanneries
Rubber industry
Work in factories for fitting cylinders with pressed gases
Loading and unloading merchandise
Coal works when coal is made of animals bones but not the operation of separating bones before such bones are burnt
Operations involving bleaching, dying and printing textiles
Carrying heavy loads
Work in public bars