Stringent rules help regulate labour market in UAE

Dubai, Oct 21 (UNI) Penalties and other stringent actions against the companies hiring illegal workers are helping to regulate the labour market in the UAE.

Expressing concern over the demand for lenient labour rules, Assistant Under Secretary in the Ministry of Labour Humaid Bin Deemas said, ''We are increasing the number of our inspectors to help get rid of all illegal workers in the country.'' From November 2, the interior and labour ministry will start massive inspection campaigns to get rid of all illegal workers, he said, apprising that temporary work permits are also avaliable and ''if an employment visa for a worker got rejected by the ministry the company can replace that worker twice, and they can also refund their fees''.

From January 2008, the wages will be paid through the banks and all companies will be asked to send monthly reports about their employees' wages to the ministry, Mr Bin Deemas further said.

Defining the 'malicious complaint' by an employer against his or her employees, he said if the employer lodges a complaint against the employee, the ministry will consider whether the complaints have been made in good faith or not.

''We will investigate the cases and if the complaint is found to be malicious, it will be treated very seriously and could lead to disciplinary actions against the complainants,'' the Gulf news quoted the official as saying.

Moreover, all the workers have the right to ask the ministry for a full investigation into any complaints lodged against them. They can also seek for the withdrawals of such malicious complaints. The workers can also go to court asking for compensation, he added.

''We want labour accommodation of national and international standards. Group work permits will not be issued for any company if standard labour accommodation is not available,'' he mentioned.

UNI