Opinion | Editorials
Malfeasance brought to the fore
The Ministry of Labour shows a high degree of transparency.
- Gulf News
- Published: 00:07 June 27, 2008
The disclosure by the Ministry of Labour of malfeasance in a section of its department is both commendable and welcome. Commendable because it shows initiative in revealing that some members of staff have been committing offences involving the issuance of illegal work permits. Welcome in that by its disclosure the Ministry is showing a high degree of transparency not only to its own staff, but also to the public.
Government officials are trusted to carry out their tasks at a level of trust and honesty that is beyond compare. Once this trust or honesty is shown to fall short of expectations, then sadly it can reflect upon the whole department, wrongfully bringing discredit upon all who work there. The Ministry of Labour has chosen the right way to scotch any possibility of rumours destroying the fine reputation of its department and staff by revealing to the public what has taken place and that investigations are ongoing and there is a likelihood of prosecutions being made in due course.
The crime that was committed by some of its staff was the issuance of some 3,000 work permits - which number has been determined thus far; after full investigation it may prove that more have been issued. Aside from determining which members of staff were involved in the fraudulent act, it will also be essential to find the people who are working on false permits and, more than likely the middlemen involved, since it will possibly need mediators between the government employee and the worker to enable the transaction to take place.
There have been recent, smaller, reports of lack of security within some government departments, but of minor nature involving the transfer of information by mobile phone. The Ministry of Labour disclosure is far more serious, as it affects the very security of the nation.
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