UAE | Visa
Seven in the dock over work permit sale
They had floated firms that existed only on paper and engaged in illegal sale of documents
- By Wafa Issa Staff Reporter, Staff Reporter
- Published: 22:57 February 13, 2009
Dubai: The owners of seven companies existing only on paper and engaged in selling work permits, have been referred to the public prosecution by the Ministry of Labour in the last quarter of 2008, said a senior official.
Humaid Bin Deemas, Acting Director General at the ministry, said the crackdown on these companies, which are the main source for the existence of illegals in the country, has become more effective since the enforcement of stricter rules in December 2007.
"In the last quarter of 2008 we referred owners of seven companies, which only exist on paper and are engaged in the work permits' business, from across the country to the public prosecution," said Bin Deemas.
He added that he does not know if any of them have had a court verdict against them yet.
Many workers purchase work permits from such companies and carry out temporary jobs and the majority of them decide to stay even after their permits expire.
However, there is no available data of how many such workers are in the country currently.
"To crackdown on such companies is one of our main tasks as they form the main source for illegals in the country.
"Illegal employment endangers not only the workers who is left open to exploitation because they can claim no rights but also pose a threat to the society as a whole," he said.
According to the regulations issued in November 2007, anybody who has a worker under his sponsorship but does not have a labour relation with this worker faces Dh50,000 in fines and will also likely get jail time.
The rule also stipulates that anyone who employs illegal workers and infiltrators or gives them shelter will face a fine of Dh50,000 per person. A jail term and penalty is imposed if the crime is repeated.
The regulations came into effect in December 2007 following a three-month grace period given by the cabinet in June to illegal workers and their employers to reevaluate their status in the country.
About 300,000 people left or reevaluated their situation in the country during the amnesty, according to government statistics.
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