Most illegal workers in UAE labour market brought on maid's visa

Dubai, Oct 17 (UNI) Nineteen of the 82 illegal workers caught during the inspection drive to monitor the country's labour market were brought on a maid's visa but were working in companies that come under the Labour Ministry.

More than 50 companies in Dubai and northern emirates were caught employing illegal workers during the first 15 days of the drive initiated by the Labour Ministry.

The government intensified inspections following the end of the amnesty period granted to illegal expatriate workers and their employers to adjust their situation, Gulf news reported.

Some 829 companies have been inspected by 26 inspectors, according to the ministry statistics.

Only seven per cent of the companies inspected were found to be violating the rule, Assistant Undersecretary Labour Ministry Humaid Bin Deemas was quoted as saying.

The violators constituted around 18 violators working on a visit visa. Other types of violations were people with a free zone visa but working elsewhere, women under the sponsorship of the husband or father, students. Some did not even have any official documents in the country, the inspection report stated.

''The large number of violators with a maid's visa is a clear indication of the threat absconding maids pose on the labour market and emphasises the need to review the mechanism now followed to employ domestic helpers,'' Mr Humaid said.

''We have to ensure that companies continue to adhere to rules, especially with regard to illegal employment, he said.

Penalties enforced on violating companies include downgrading to category C, stopping of transactions depending on the nature and numbers of violations.

Violating workers would get a life time ban and get deported after their papers were cancelled by the interior ministry.

UNI