Expatriates can now cancel their labour cards without having to pay the cancellation fee of Dh100, according to a new ministerial decision issued earlier this week.

Matar Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, announced the waiver, and according to a new ruling, no fees will be charged at the cancellation of a labour card, whatever the reason for the cancellation.

Sources said many workers just vanished without cancelling their permits, which was creating problems in the ministry database.

However, if there are any fines on the labour card, they will be collected at the time of the cancellation.

Also, companies wishing to change the work permit of an expatriate worker are allowed to do so, provided they hire the same nationality for the same job as the previous worker. The gender of the worker should also be the same as the previous worker. A formal approval from the labour permit committee should be obtained.

The permit should also be approved by the head of the production unit and the director of the labour department of the emirate. No charges will be levied for the new permit, which should be changed within 60 days of the old work permit.

Ministry officials should also make sure that the name on the application for a new labour card must be the same as in the details entered in the database of the ministry.

No fees will be charged for a new labour card or new employment contract under the new system. The ministerial decision follows the Cabinet ruling concerning the merging of fees and offences.
All departments are ordered to implement the decision with immediate effect.