Abu Dhabi: Some 1,094 absconding housemaids were caught in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah during the first four months of this year.
The consecutive violators follow-up inspection teams from the Ministry of Interior caught the housemaids during the first quarter of this year as part of ongoing campaigns across the country.
Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, Deputy Assistant of Naturalisation, Residency and Boarder Checkpoints Department, said the campaigns will continue to pursue absconding housemaids, violators and infiltrators, in addition to whoever accommodates them, and refer them to the law.
Major General Al Menhali added that the Ministry of Interior is currently coordinating with the embassies and consulates of the maids in the UAE to facilitate their return to their countries.
He also pointed out that the embassies and consulates are cooperating with the ministry to complete travel procedures as soon as possible.
Colonel Saeed Bin Rakan Al Rashidi, Director of the violators follow-up section, said inspection teams were able to arrest 582 absconding maids in Abu Dhabi, 242 in Al Ain and 270 in Sharjah.
He also pointed out that this number of absconding maids caught during this period is an indicator that the servant absconding problem is still there and the inspection teams will continue their work to pursue them.
Colonel Al Rashidi said there are reasons that encourage servants to abscond, one of which is brokers that trade the safety and interest of the country for cheap material returns accommodate them thus violating laws and regulations in this respect.
Authorities have increased the fine for accommodating and employing violators to Dh50,000, and the fine for helping infiltrators is Dh100,000 with a prison sentence and deportation.
Report infiltrators and violators
UAE nationals and expatriate citizens are encouraged to call the toll free number 80080 which functions 24 hours a day to report infiltrators and violators.
Would you report an absconder to the authorities? Why or why not?
