Can process visa before ban period gets over

A six-month or one year long recruitment ban on a worker cannot be used against issuing a new work permit during the said period, a Ministry of Labour (MoL) official said.

"This system demonstrates the MoL's commitment to grant the blacklisted worker the opportunity to search for another job. Likewise, the employer wishing to hire him can initiate a transaction for issuing a new work permit before the end of the ban duration to save time," Jassim Jamil, acting Director General, Work Relations Department, told Khaleej Times. He added: "Most workers and firms wait until the ban is over and then apply to the ministry to get new work permits, which is a wrong practice. It is not a condition to wait for the ban period to get over. The UAE is keen to give workers and companies all the necessary facilities to ensure the continuity of work relations for the best interest of the employer and the employee in compliance with the spirit of the law," he said.

"The move is also aimed at retaining competent professionals that companies desperately need and are not available in the local labour market,'' he said.

Khaleejtimes.com 29 September 2010