• Home

Clear fines to get work permit, companies told

ABU DHABI — The companies violating the labour law must first pay fines and then seek work permits.

This was conveyed to a firm’s public relations officer by Obaid Rashid Al Zahmi, Assistant Undersecretary in the Ministry of Labour (MoL) during the weekly open session yesterday. Al Zahmi met 35 applicants during the session.

Al Zahmi rejected the application of Abu Dhabi-based Dolphin Construction Company which sought 13 work permits. He told the firm’s PRO to clear fines in order to obtain work permits.

He also rejected Al Madinat Services Company’s request for fine waiver because the firm had provided false information about an absconding labourer.

Al Zahmi referred the case of Al Hassani Maintenance Company to the Settlement Committee in the MoL. The company had sought waiver on Dh10,000 fine since it had sent the expired labour cards to the Indian embassy, which had delayed renewal of the labourers’ passports.

After being informed by a PRO that one of the applications had not been cleared in 44 days. Al Zahmi said the concerned departments will investigate the matter and do the needful.

Many workers said their complaints took several weeks and sometimes months without any results. Commenting on the complaints, Al Zahmi said, “Sometimes the workers don’t know the rules and formalities. So, we urge the labourers across the country to use the toll free number 800 665 to get more information that will definitely help them.”

• UAE