Legal experts have stated that a last-week amendment to the UAE labour law will discourage employers from hiring people with visitation visas. Fines ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh1 million will be imposed for a number of offences, including hiring workers without the required authorisation and bringing them to the UAE without finding them employment.
“Hiring employees without a work permit used to carry fines of between Dh50,000 and Dh200,000. According to Ali Saeed Al Kaabi, director of ECH Digital, “the new range of Dh100,000 to Dh1 million shows the seriousness of the government in protecting workers’ rights.” He also added that the changes will guarantee the legitimacy of employment practices.
When visitors’ tourist visas expire, some employers coerce them into working by promising them residency and work permits. For labour completed during this time, a large number of them are not paid. Al Kaabi claimed that some tourists were mistreated and told to leave after their visitation visas expired, all under the pretence of receiving a job offer. “The decision made by the federal government will ensure that labour laws are followed and significantly curb these malpractices.”
Kieran Foury, a South African expat, was one of those who suffered as a result of working while on a visitation visa. In December 2023, he arrived in Dubai with the goal of securing employment.
Also Read:
As Schools Prepare to Reopen in Abu Dhabi, More than 6,000 Buses will Carry 181,000 Students
