Workers living in illegal premises will be fined

Dubai: Accommodating workers in unauthorised premises will attract fines ranging from Dh5,000 to Dh25,000 depending on the type of offence.

New fines have also been announced for violation of general cleanliness rules in the city.

The civic body has also introduced increased fines for illegal disposal of sewage in non-designated areas, preventing leakage of sewage from buildings or dumping sewage onto public streets and import, trade, possession, use and consumption of paan.

A Dh100,000 fine will be imposed for illegal disposal of sewage in non-designated areas and Dh10,000 for failure to prevent leakage of sewage from buildings or dumping sewage on streets, and a Dh50,000 fine if caught importing, trading, possessing, using and consuming pan (betel leaf).

Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director-General of Dubai Municipality, said that the new fines form part of several amendments made to the executive bill of Local Order No. 11 of 2003 aimed at safeguarding public health and preserving the safety of communities living in Dubai.

Companies require a permit from the municipality to accommodate workers in their premises or any worksite.

According to the new decision, if a firm is found to having violated this rule, it will be fined Dh5,000 if the number of employees thus accommodated is between 6 and 20.

The fine will be raised to Dh10,000 if the number of employees is between 21 and 30.

Other amendments

Subsequently, a fine of Dh15,000 will be imposed if this number is between 31 and 50 and the fine will be Dh25,000 if more than 50 workers are accommodated in unauthorised premises.

The decision also stipul-ates that if a firm accommodates individuals in establishments or buildings that have not been designated as "accommodation," the firm will be fined Dh5,000 per individual.

Meanwhile, other amendments as stipulated in the decision suggest fines for various types of violations of the general cleanliness rules.

It notes that if anyone found disposing of sewage water in an open area or in any other non-designated areas, the violating individual or establishment will have to pay a fine of Dh100,000.

Leakage of sewage

Also, in case of failure by anyone to prevent a leakage of sewage water from buildings or dumping of sewage water by tankers onto the public roads, a fine of Dh10,000 will be imposed against the violators.

Spitting of pan or littering streets with its residue will fetch a fine of Dh1,000 instead of the previous fine of Dh500. The existing fines for the import, trade, possession or use of pan will be raised from Dh5,000 to Dh50,000.

The decision also stipulates that if any of the violation is repeated within one year, the fine will be doubled and additional legal measures will be taken against the violators including confiscation of the violating vehicle, suspension of trade licence for 30 days or disconnection of utilities from the premises.

At a glance: Violations and fines