UAE | Government
Ministry employees 'issued more than 3,000 illegal work permits'
The Ministry of Labour on Wednesday announced that more than 3,000 illegal work permits have been issued by its own staff and that the ministry may proceed to press charges against those involved.
- By Marten Youssef, Staff Reporter
- Published: 14:58 June 25, 2008
Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Labour on Wednesday announced that more than 3,000 illegal work permits have been issued by its own internal staff and the ministry may press charges against those involved.
In a brave move by the ministry to highlight its own commitment to transparency, it revealed its own investigation at a press conference on Wednesday.
"As you can imagine, this was a disastrous shock for us. We were completely baffled with this discovery. However, one of our pillars in the ministry is transparency and therefore we are bringing this issue to public," said the ministry's acting undersecretary Humaid Bin Deemas.
The work permits were issued despite the documents required for them being unavailable and were issued by staff in the ministry's Al Ain's office.
"The ministry has set up a committee to further investigate this matter and has already held several meetings with the employees of the Al Ain office ... the committee has learnt that some of the employees can be criminally charged under the law," the ministry further announced in a press release.
The ministry said not much detail can be given out at this time in order to facilitate further investigation of the case, though it reaffirmed its commitment to help officials throughout the process. Until official charges have been laid and the ministry completes its investigation process, the names of the accused are being withheld.
"At this point we are devoting a lot of our efforts for investigating this case. It's too early to point fingers," Bin Deemas added. "As much as this troubles us, we are hoping to send a very clear message that no one is above the law."
The ministry has set up a committee to further investigate this matter and has already held several meetings with the employees of the Al Ain office."
Ministry of Labour press statement
Share this article
More from UAE Government
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Have your say
Living in untidy homes
Do you think that people who live in untidy homes have bad character?
Latest news
- Unveiling the human face of technology to help the helpers
- Full text of Shaikh Mohammad's speech
- flydubai starts service to Sudanese capital
- Shaikh Mohammad tells Dubai doubters to shut up
- Global crisis won't deter Dubai's ambition: Mohammad
- Reinforce the positive to fight the negative
- UAE-Pakistan Friendship Festival in Abu Dhabi
- Khalifa congratulates Karzai on re-election
- Khalifa receives congratulatory call from Talabani
- Camel in RAK gives birth to twins
- Saif is appointed Emiratisation chief
- Pavement parking irks pedestrians
- Man jailed 3 years in fatal assault of colleague
- Murder: Mother gets stiffer sentence
- Traffic Prosecution adopts humanitarian step
Community Reports
-
Pavement parking irks pedestrians
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to step in and stop car owners from invading pathways meant for safe walking
-
Faded parking lines pose a problem
Motorists could be fined for parking incorrectly even though they can hardly see the boundaries in the designated areas
-
School buses block residential parking
Commercial vehicles taking up free parking facilities in Al Wuheida, inconveniencing residents in surrounding villas
-
Community report: Doing their bit for poor children
A group of students takes concrete action to raise funds for Dubai Cares
