No ban illegals who make use of amnesty

Dubai: The Ministry of Interior will not ban illegal residents who avail themselves of the amnesty, a senior ministry official said yesterday.

Brigadier Mohammad Al Merri, Director General of the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department, told Gulf News the authorities will show no mercy to those who ignore the amnesty and continue staying here illegally or those who employ illegal workers.

Brig Al Merri said no one will be fined now and workers who have absconded will be given a chance to find a new sponsor and work legally. At least 2,000 illegal residents have approached his department in the past four days to benefit from the amnesty.

Lieutenant Colonel Dr Abdullah Sahoo, Director General of Sharjah Naturalisation and Residency Department told Gulf News that a large number of illegal residents are also approaching the department to avail themselves of the amnesty.

Tracing employers

"We are helping everyone, including workers who have absconded or do not have a passport or do not know who their sponsor is. We will trace their sponsor to help them to get a new visa or to go back home. They will not be banned from entering the country again," Lt Col Dr Sahoo said.

He said those who offend the labour law should first approach the labour ministry to amend their status. "We are receiving illegal workers at our main office from 7am-9pm. We are registering their names and studying their cases to solve their problems. I think it will help in curbing illegal residents and will have a positive impact on the labour market," he said.

Brig Al Merri said people must bring with them air ticket fare if they wish to go home. He said this year's amnesty is different from the one granted in the past as hefty fines will be slapped on those who employ illegal workers.

"Those who will employ illegal workers after the end of the three-month amnesty will have their farms seized and have to pay Dh50,000 fine and will face a jail term," he said.

"We are coordinating with the Ministry of Labour regarding the implementation of the pardon," he said. "We have 15 officials who are working from 7am till 9pm to receive the applicants at our branch in Jumeirah," he said.

Steps to be taken: Committee's advice to expatriates

• Illegal residents can approach any of the residency departments in the country to benefit from the amnesty.
• Those under the Ministry of Labour should approach the ministry first and then approach the nearest naturalisation and residency department.
• They can come with a passport or passport copy or labour card.
• Those who do not have a passport or passport copy will be helped by officials who will find details about them, such as their name and date of their entering the country.
• Those who are not working for their sponsor will get help to transfer their sponsorship without paying a fine.
• Absconding workers can transfer their sponsorship to a new sponsor if he or she obtains the approval of their old sponsor without being fined.
• Those who do not know their sponsor can get help from any naturalisation department.
• Those who wish to leave the country need to obtain an air ticket.
• Those who fail to amend their status within three months will face fine and jail.
• Those who employ illegal workers such as housemaids, labourers or any other worker will face jail and will have to pay huge fines and face deportation with ban for expatriates.

A beautiful decision by the UAE government. Thanks to them for this decision.
Mohammed Habibur Rahman
Dubai,UAE

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