Two months in jail and fine for sheltering illegals

Abu Dhabi: Employers of illegal workers and infiltrators and those who give them shelter will face up to two months in jail and a Dh100,000 fine, the labour minister said yesterday.

The move is meant to weed out illegal workers, who endanger national security, threaten the stability of the economy and the labour market, and ruin the country's reputation, Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Minister of Labour, told Gulf News yesterday.

"The penalty for those who employ or provide shelter to illegal workers will be one month in jail and Dh50,000 for each worker, and the penalty will be doubled for those who employ or provide shelter to illegal immigrants," Al Ka'abi said.

He was speaking following the announcement of the three-month amnesty by the Cabinet on Sunday to illegal expatriate workers and their employers to either adjust their status or leave the country without penalty.

Don't wait

The ministry, he said, will streamline procedures for those who seek to adjust their legal status by allowing sponsorship transfer. "A joint committee from ministries of interior, labour and justice will soon finalise these procedures."

Al Ka'abi expressed hope that illegal workers will hurry up and not wait until the last days of the grace period. The move, Al Ka'abi said, was part of a series of measures taken to tighten the implementation of labour laws, particularly those on violations and employment of illegal workers.

He also spoke of harsher penalties against illegal workers who fail to benefit from the amnesty.

"The Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the Ministry of Labour and other concerned ministries, will take the necessary steps to implement the Cabinet's decision and the executive rules will provide for tougher penalties for those who fail to make use of the amnesty."

The country has twice granted amnesty to illegal immigrants and illegal workers. One was in 1996 and the second was in 2003.

Some 300,000 illegal workers have gone into hiding in many marginal jobs across the country and about 5,000 workers abscond from their employers on a monthly basis, according to the Labour Ministry's estimates.

The amnesty was widely praised by officials.

Colonel Nasser Al Minhali, director of the Abu Dhabi Naturalisation and Residency Department, said the move will tighten the noose on illegal workers and their employers and will help organise the labour market.

2,000 inspectors

Praising the amnesty as timely, Brigadier Mohammad Al Merri, director of Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department, called on businesspersons and workers who were forced to break the law to quickly seize the chance of the grace period.

Humaid Bin Deemas, undersecretary of the labour ministry, said that some 2,000 inspectors will be recruited to monitor companies and arrest illegal workers.

The amnesty is a good move for those who are abandoned by their sponsors. If the government extends the grace period, it would be even better.
Shubhasree
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Though it can not be justified, workers are compelled to stay illegally due to many reason. It would be a good move if authorities, in coordination with Ministry of Labour, take the initiative to make these workers legal by providing job opportunities.
Haris
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Authorities should also enforce a strong rule on the sponsor of the person who comes on a visit visa to find work here.
Author
Dubai,India

The amnesty given to illegal workers is indeed a great act of kindness by the UAE government.
Sukanto
New Delhi,India

The amnesty grant is great. Expatriates must also be aware of their visa status so that they do not get into trouble.
Jay
Manila,Philippines

I salute the authorities for giving this golden chance to people working illegally in the UAE to go back to their home country without incurring fines.
Sudhir
Dubai,UAE

It would be better if authorities check companies for anomalies. It is not just the employees fault that they are working illegally. Some companies promise to give new workers employment visa but they never do anything to make that promise a reality.
Jina
Olongapo,Philippines

I appreciate the amnesty. Illegal workers should be given an opportunity to legalise their status and expenses for a change of sponsorship should be reduced and made less complicated.
Abdul
Dubai,UAE