Stiffer penalties for firms violating break

Dubai: Companies found violating the midday break for workers will face heavy penalties this year compared to the last year, announced the minister of labour.

The midday break initiative was launched in 2005 providing the much needed halt from work during the hottest period of the day during the summer months of July and August.

The break which was kept for four hours in its first year of implementation was cut down to two and half hours in 2006.

Dr Ali Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Minister of Labour, told Gulf News that the penalties will be twice as much this year.

"The workers will get the midday break this year for two and half hours from 12.30 pm to 3pm during July and August. However, we are going to be very strict with those companies which are to be found committing the same offences as last year," said Al Ka'abi.

Last year, the decision stipulated that first time violators faced fine of Dh10,000 and got their transactions suspended for three months. Second time violators attract a fine of Dh20,000 and six-month ban on transactions while violators caught for the third time were fined Dh30,000 and were not be able to get new labour permits for a year.

The announcement came on the sidelines on talks held between Al Ka'abi and Vayalar Ravi, the Indian Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs on the labour MoU signed by both the countries in 2006.

Redressing grievances

The meeting between the Ministers was preceded by the first Joint Committee Meeting between the Indian and the UAE delegations. The committee decided to establish a grievance redressal mechanism to address problems faced by Indian workers under which a monthly meeting would be held between the officers of the Indian Embassy, Abu Dhabi, and the Consul General, Dubai, with the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Labour.

"Feedback from the monthly meetings will form the basis for discussion at the evaluation meeting which will be held in October in New Delhi," said Ravi. According to figures provided by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs an estimated 1.4 million Indians live in the UAE.

Both ministers emphasised that one of the main issues of the MoU is to provide solutions for tackling illegal workers entering the UAE. Al Ka'abi said that plans are also on the anvil to enforce a lifetime ban on illegal workers in all GCC- countries. "Discussions are underway with the different GCC countries on how to enforce the lifetime ban all over the region," he added.

On whether there was possibility of amnesty for illegal workers Al Ka'abi said: "In my opinion there should be no amnesty. This is because amnesty provides an excuse for individuals to continue working despite his illegal status, however we are going to submit a report on the matter to the Cabinet," said Al Ka'abi.