Expatriate workers with six-month visa ban in UAE get reprieve

Dubai, Dec 28 (PTI) In a bid to reform its labour market,
the UAE has introduced a new work permit which will allow
foreign workers, including Indians, in the country to switch
jobs after two years without facing a six-month ban for
leaving their work.
Expatriate workers in the UAE who have received a
six-month ban on leaving their jobs recently will be able to
obtain new work permits from the beginning of the new year, a
senior official has said.
The new work permit will be issued only if they have
completed two years with their former employers, Humaid Bin
Deemas, Acting Director-General at the Ministry of Labour,
said.
Deemas told a local radio programme that these workers
will be issued new work permits from January even if they have
not served the full six-month ban.
"Expatriate workers who have completed two years with
their employers can change jobs without serving the ban
following the implementation of the new rules," Bin Deemas
said.
He said sponsors cannot force employees to continue to
work for them if the workers do not wish to do so.
"If workers have quit before the completion of two years
then they will not be issued labour cards until the two-year
period is over," he added.
The official, however, said that if a worker, who has
already cancelled his residence visa, returns to the UAE on a
visit visa, he will not get a work permit before the expiry of
the two-year period.
Bin Deemas said the relationship between a sponsor and a
worker will end with the expiry of the labour card, which is
limited to two years.
"Skilled and unskilled workers who end their contracts
legally will get a labour permit," Deemas said.
The Indian community in the UAE is estimated to be around
1.75 million-strong, making it the largest expatriate
community in this country. PTI