12,000 illegal workers caught since UAE amnesty ended

ABU DHABI // More than 12,000 illegal workers have been arrested since a visa amnesty ended in February, the Minister of Labour told the FNC yesterday.

In December, people working in the UAE illegally were given a chance to register and avoid fines, prosecution and deportation. By the end of the amnesty, 60,000 had come forward, said Saqr Ghobash.

Since then, inspections by the Ministry of Interior have increased, with 12,345 workers found in the country with an invalid visa or in breach of labour laws.

Mr Ghobash said he agreed with Ali Al Nuaimi (Ajman) who expressed concern about illegal workers and lawbreakers roaming the streets.

“First of all I agree with him, with his fears with this kind of labour. So far more than 12,000 have been caught, this shows seriousness in dealing with this issue.”

He said a number of steps were required before a labourer could work in the UAE, including checking for the need for the work, making sure the firm was registered in the wages protection system, and checking to see if the firm was in breach of any labour laws.

If accommodation was to be provided, inspectors checked to see if it met ministry requirements.

“These are some things the ministry does before giving a work permit,” he said.

Harsh punishments, including a Dh50,000 fine for those working under someone else’s visa, ensured employers did not break the law, he added.

“These harsh punishments...was the best way to deal with these cases,” he said.

Those who do not issue labour cards for their employees within 60 days after entering the country, or do not renew them within 60 days upon expiry, would suffer the same fate. In 2012, 188 firms were taken to court for not paying wages, Mr Ghobash said.

Another 243 bogus firms were also taken to court.

While acknowledging the ministry’s work to organise the labour market, Mr Al Nuaimi said many workers were found clustered in random areas looking for any work.

“This is a big security threat,” he said, adding that theft was also starting to spread. “They are entering villas under construction at night and stealing electronics,”

The minister agreed with the concerns raised. “I agree on dangers, that is there,” he said. “And the country was keen to give amnesty. The number of those caught since the amnesty shows the seriousness of the country in dealing with these workers.

There is keenness, and this will continue.”

Mr Ghobash said the issue will be dealt with by the security services, in a civilised manner.

He noted there were four million workers in the country. The ministry, he said, had 350 field inspectors.

“The job market here is very different to those around the world since expats are much higher here,” he said. “We thank God there is a labour market organised here; it lowered many problems and complaints.”

The labour market, he said, has been recognised internationally.

“We will continue in this work, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Interior,” he said. “Workers are always followed by the Ministry of Interior. If they have violated the labour law, it means they violated residency regulations, and the party in charge is the Ministry of Interior.”

Mr Al Nuaimi stressed the need to find a solution to organise workers as it “could cause problems in the future”.

He called on the council to support his request to raise a proposal to the Cabinet to increase the number of inspections to make them proportional to the number of workers in the country.

The majority of members supported his request and a proposal will now be passed to the Cabinet.

osalem@thenational.ae