Good news for teachers on labour card
Schools are no longer allowed to deduct labour card fees from teachers
Dubai: The Ministry of Education is due to amend a circular issued in 2000, which violates the labour law, a senior official at the ministry said.
The ministry circular allows private schools to deduct labour card fees from employees sponsored by their fathers or husbands.
Following a Gulf News report revealing conflicting instructions from the labour and education ministries, the education ministry said it plans to issue a new circular in line with the labour law.
Ali Mehad Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Human Resources Planning and Development Department at the Ministry of Education, told Gulf News that a new circular is to be issued at the end of this week.
Contradicts law
"Although the circular from 2000 is still applied by some private schools we acknowledge that it, now, contradicts the labour law and therefore a new circular will be issued," he said.
Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Minister of Labour, told Gulf News he will investigate the matter with the legal affairs department at the Ministry of Labour before commenting further.
The controversy unfolded after many teachers complained to Gulf News that fees for labour cards were being deducted from their salaries. The labour law states that an employer must pay the fees for the labour card and work permit as well as the fines accrued for not obtaining or renewing the labour card.
Some education zones and school managements have justified the deduction of labour card fees from salaries by quoting the circular of 2000.
