No exemption from labour fines: Ministry

Dubai - No company, whether big or small, will get exemption from fines imposed for violations of labour rules, according to the Ministry of Labour.

Humaid bin Deemas, Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Labour, said on Thursday: “Two things I want every firm to do: One is making sure that workers are registered in the labour system and not wandering around the country illegally. The other is employees’ rights... pay their monthly salary and do not neglect their rights.”

Deemas was speaking at an open-day at the department after a complainant asked for exemption from fine imposed on his real estate firm, which hasn’t been paying salaries to its emloyees. The man claimed the market was performing poorly. “I’ve been losing lots of money and I couldn’t pay the workers,” he said.

Deemas told him to shut down his business if he cannot continue in the market: “It’s an economic crisis and it’s not only you who has been affected by it,” he said and rejected the request.

Another man asked for a fine exemption after the expiry of his labour card deadline. The owner asked for a fine waiver because the worker was jailed for some reason. Deemas wanted to see a police certificate to verify that this person was jailed during the period to take the matter forward. The case was referred until the document was received.

Earlier, he said Emiratis could be delegated to more than one employer only if the other company(ies) have less than 100 employees. He was referring to a young Emirati’s request for a delegate position in another company. He viewed the second company’s labour records and found out that there were less than 100 employees working in it. He referred his case to be accepted as he had no issues against him.

“Each citizen has the right to work as a delegate for one employer. He can work with another employer, but only if the number of workers are less than 100 in all companies combined,” Deemas said.

“The ministry applied this decision since 2006, to create more opportunities for Emiratis across the country,” he said.

ahmedjamal@khaleejtimes.com

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