Decision 'reflects humanitarian aspect of the UAE'

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Interior will hold a press conference today to announce the outcome of the amnesty granted earlier by Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, to violators of the residency law to enable them to leave the country.

Humaid Bin Deemas, Assistant Undersecretary, Ministry of Labour, Colonel Nasser Al Awadi Al Minhali, Director, Department of Naturalisation and Residency in Abu Dhabi, and other senior officials will take part in the press conference.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Saif Abdullah Al Sha'afar, Undersecretary, Ministry of Interior, said the Cabinet decision granting a three-month-long amnesty to violators of the entry and residency law to rectify their status was a sound decision.

"The decision reflects the humanitarian aspect of the UAE to deal with such a category," he said.

Al Sha'afar said the decision to streamline the labour market was well-timed.

The amnesty had given the violators three months to rectify their status, or leave the country without paying any fines, he said, indicating that the amnesty had even covered the infiltrators.

"As the amnesty has expired, hefty punishment will be imposed on violators and those who violate the security and safety of the country," Al Sha'afar said. The existence of illegal workforce poses negative effects on the UAE's economic, social, security and humanitarian aspects.

Al Sha'afar commended the coordination between the ministries of interior and labour in facilitating the departure of violators.

He said the campaign would be stepped up to track down violators and bring them to justice, warning employers who provide shelters to violators about the consequences.