Worker likely to avoid hefty fine

ABU DHABI — An Asian employee nearly collapsed when he was told at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs that he had to pay more than Dh20,000 fines. But thanks to the intervention of the Labour Dispute Department he is likely to walk away without paying a single fils.

By Nada S. Mussallam

Published: Sun 11 Sep 2005, 10:37 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 9:16 PM

According to an official source at the Labour Dispute Department, the employee whose name was not disclosed had accumulated fines of thousands of dirhams on violations concerning labour card.

Speaking to Khaleej Times yesterday, the official said: "On humanitarian grounds, a report on the case will be forwarded to the office of the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Dr Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi's for endorsement."

Narrating the employee's story, the official said the worker who has been working in the field of plastery and carpentry for an interior design firm in the capital, lodged a complaint four years back against his company, claiming unpaid salary for several months. The man was not issued a labour card since 2001 and the dispute was referred to the labour court to protect the labourer's rights and ensure quick settlement of the problem, explained the official.

"The labourer was shocked when he came to cancel his visa through the ministry that he had to pay Dh20,000, as per the new hefty fines levied by labour authorities on expired labour cards," he said.

The ministry has recently introduced a new system under which high fees are imposed on violations concerning renewal or cancellation of expired labour cards. He underlined the worker's case was still processed by judicial authorities and the labourer hasn't yet got his entitlements.

"As per the new law, the worker has to pay a sum of Dh20,000 which he obviously wouldn't be able to afford because his case is still not yet settled and consequently he hasn't got his dues. Moreover, the amount is too much for a labourer to bear," said the official.

He clarified that in the event of labour disputes that are processed by legal authorities, employees are exempted from fines if the card expired after referral of dispute to the labour court.