Dubai: In spite of regular checks, illegal workers and beggars continue with their activities across the emirate, according to data from Dubai Municipality.
Records show that 282 street beggars, illegal vendors and car washers were caught last month. In January and February, the number of such people who were caught by the municipality inspectors was 205 and 306 respectively.
Those engaged in illegal work are handed over by the civic body to the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department for deportation, in coordination with the Dubai Police.
Even as the authorities conduct regular checks, illegal car washer and beggars are easy to find.
"I get a salary of only Dh500 a month and to earn some more money, I do car washing in the evenings," said a car washer in the Bur Dubai area.
Ebrahim Obaid Marzouqi, Head of the Markets Department at Dubai Municipality, said, "Civic inspectors conduct daily spot checks in streets and public places to prevent street vending, begging and car washing in public places by individuals in violation of the ruling by the Ministry of Labour in this regard.
"Inspectors at the Control Unit of the Markets Administration Section in the Assets Management Department carry out regular checks to take action against the violators."
The move against the lawbreakers had also resulted in the seizure of several low-quality goods and pirated CDs.
Last month 2,043 DVDs with pirated films, 85 pornographic movies and 8.2 tonnes of foodstuff items, including 121 boxes of fruits and vegetables were seized.
The people caught in the spot check include 196 street vendors, 63 beggars, 20 car washers and three illegal butchers and fish cleaners.
In case of seized pirated goods, legal action will be taken against the violators and the goods would be destroyed and disposed off safely, the municipal official said.
