A UAE crackdown on companies that fail to hire workers after promising them employment is critical to stop exploiting those who pledge their life savings for a job in the Gulf, lawyers and social workers said.
The government this week issued a federal decree specifying fines of up to Dh1 million on employers who breach labour laws, hire minors, employ workers without valid permits, bring people into the country and fail to place them in jobs or close businesses without settling dues.
The directive was welcomed by experts who handle cases of people lured into the country with the promise of high wages and pay money to recruiters, but are left to fend for themselves when their visit visas expire.
Social workers and legal experts said that people cannot pay overstay fines and are unable to return home as they have no money.
They bring people in to work for three or four months and let them go when they ask for their salary
Hashik Thayikandy,
partner in a Dubai legal firm
“This is a warning to companies that misuse the visit visa. They bring people in to work for three or four months and let them go when they ask for their salary,” said Hashik Thayikandy, a partner in a Dubai legal firm.
“Previously there was a Dh50,000 fine on companies now the authorities have increased it to between Dh100,000 and Dh1million. This is a strong decision to enforce the law on a person or company that tries to make someone work without a valid work permit.
“These workers approach us or the consulates as they don’t have money for food or housing.”
He said the strengthening of the law was crucial to safeguard the rights of workers.
“Protection of labour is fundamental to every country and it’s the duty of governments to protect the vulnerable especially those in the labour category.
“The announcement is a strict message to companies to obey the law and that it will be enforced.
“It will strengthen the workplace and the employment system in the UAE.
“All companies should be aware of this fine of up to Dh1 million so they don’t misuse the visit visa.”
Loans for dream jobs
Officials have often cautioned companies and recruitment firms against bringing workers to the UAE on tourist visas to search for jobs.
Despite warnings from embassies and UAE authorities, workers take significant loans to pay recruitment agencies more than Dh4,300 ($1,200) hoping to secure jobs to care for their families back home.
When they arrive, they are placed in low-paying jobs earning less than Dh1,000 – significantly less than expected for the positions they were recruited for.
Some are not paid on time and many need to search for employment.
Can Cai who works with a legal firm in the UAE said workers were often duped into signing vague contracts that would not hold up in court.
“People approach us with contracts they have signed but there is no time frame mentioned and they come to the UAE without a firm job offer,” he said.
“There are workers of all nationalities – Chinese, Indian, Pakistani who pay their life savings to recruitment companies and get stuck here without money.
“The UAE government is trying to get rid of these fraudulent companies so these workers don’t become victims.
“These fines will make the work environment more secure for workers so they are brought here on the correct work visa.”
Crackdown on companies
Girish Pant, a social worker who works with the Indian consulate, said the penalty should extend to recruitment and travel companies that issue visit visas and mislead workers by guaranteeing them jobs.
“People who come here are poor and from villages. They sell their mother’s jewellery or mortgage their family’s land hoping to get a job,” he said.
“The travel agency and the recruitment company that brings these workers should also be liable.”
He said levying fines on such companies would stem the flow of people entering the UAE as tourists but are unable to provide for themselves.
Mr Pant has handled cases of Asian workers where men have worked for three months on visit visas and wanted to return home as they were underpaid, but their return air tickets were cancelled.
“Once a worker overstays his visa, he is too scared so they hide,” Mr Pant said.
“If there is a crackdown on recruitment companies that dupe people then there will be less people deceived into coming here.
“With the new visa amnesty, we will see how many thousands now apply to return home.”
UAE authorities have announced a two-month amnesty starting in September to allow people with expired visas the opportunity to leave the country or secure their status without incurring fines.
Airport authorities in the Emirates have over the past months tightened rules requiring visitors to have a return ticket, hotel booking and a minimum of Dh3,000 to halt the entry of jobseekers who overstay their visit visas.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Everybody%20Loves%20Touda
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nabil%20Ayouch%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nisrin%20Erradi%2C%20Joud%20Chamihy%2C%20Jalila%20Talemsi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Al Baher, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.
4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Results:
Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40
INFO
What: DP World Tour Championship
When: November 21-24
Where: Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
