UAE | Employment
Decision on maids will benefit all parties, say officials
The new decision allowing housemaids to transfer sponsorship if they obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) from the original sponsor will benefit all parties concerned, officials said yesterday.
- By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 August 22, 2006
- Image Credit:
Dubai: The new decision allowing housemaids to transfer sponsorship if they obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) from the original sponsor will benefit all parties concerned, officials said on Monday.
Under the new decision, domestic workers who wish to change their job will face no ban if they obtain an NOC from the original sponsor, officials from naturalisation and residency departments said.
According to the new regulation, domestic helpers, including housemaids, can transfer sponsorship if they obtain an NOC from the original sponsor even if they have come on an employment visa and the residence visa has not been stamped on their passports.
An official said: "The maid may have had a contract for two years, but worked only one day with the original sponsor. If she wants to change her job, she can with the NOC." The maid will have to serve notice that she wants to change jobs.
If the original sponsor wants to give a one-year ban on a housemaid, he or she should must submit a letter to the residency department asking it to do so. The housemaid then will not be able to enter the country for one year from the date of leaving the UAE.
The official said currently maids do not have to work for two years and fulfil contractual obligations to avoid a ban.
A year ago, domestic helpers used to be given an automatic one-year ban on the cancellation of their visa even if the maid had worked the contractual obligation of two years with the original sponsor.
The maids would get the ban even if the sponsor did not ask for it.
The new decision was taken to reduce the number of housemaids who enter the country. The move, officials said, would also reduce the problem of absconding housemaids.
The decision will also benefit housemaids who can find another job. It also helps sponsors to change the housemaid if he or she is not happy with the person.
Labour agencies will also benefit because they will have no trouble in finding a sponsor for unwanted housemaids.
Rule: NOC needed from original sponsor
A housemaid can transfer to another sponsor if she gets an no objection certificate (NOC).
For all emirates barring Dubai, a sum of Dh500 has to be paid for the transfer and the maid does not have to leave the country for the visa change.
In Dubai, however, if the maid does not want to leave the country for the visa transfer Dh1,000 has to be paid over and above the Dh500.
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