1,700 labourers 'allowed to transfer sponsorship'

The problem of nearly 1,700 workers who were abandoned by their employer and left without jobs for more than six months has been resolved, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs said. Not all the workers, however, agree.

The ministry said yesterday the workers – comprising Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and expatriate Arabs – can transfer their sponsorship if they have new jobs. Khalid Al Khazraji, Undersecretary at the ministry, told Gulf News they are free to find new sponsors and employers.

While the official made it clear there is no ban from the ministry preventing them from transferring their sponsorship, the workers have been struggling to do so.

"We have never imposed a ban on their transfer of sponsorship. It is all confusion and rumours that these workers are prevented from taking up new jobs. In fact, a portion of the workers have already transferred their sponsorship," Al Khazraji said.

They were previously told by officials from the ministry's Labour Dispute Section there was a ban on the transfer of sponsorship because they would be re-hired by their company after its take-over by a new sponsor.

According to the workers, most of them have been offered jobs by other firms but could not join because they could not get permission to transfer sponsorship from the ministry.