Gulf News, October 22, 2013

Fast-tracking of transactions for workers’ visas

One-stop shop proposed to complete transactions

By Samir Salama, Associate Editor

Published: 20:00 October 21, 2013

Abu Dhabi: It will take employers a maximum of 48 hours to complete transactions for obtaining new work permits, renewing these permits or obtaining new job contracts, or renewing these contracts and all the way through to obtaining residence visas from the residency departments instead of the minimum 15 days at present, Humaid Bin Deemas Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs, told a news conference. Al Suwaidi explained once plans to fast-track transactions are in place in the first quarter of next year, all an employer has to do to get a work permit or a duly attested job contract completed at the Ministry of Labour is to submit just a job contract signed by the employer and the worker when a worker arrived in the UAE. “At present, the same transaction requires submitting a copy of entry visa, a copy of the worker’s passport, a copy of medical test certificate and a copy of the trade licence. All these documents will not be required because the ministries of labour and interior are linked electronically,” Al Suwaidi said. Al Suwaidi added the time spent to complete the transactions untill obtaining or renewing a worker’s residence visa will be reduced to not more than two days, instead of at least 15 days at present. Al Suwaidi added the link between departments will mean that no ID card can be obtained until a residence visa is issued, which in turn is hinged on a work permit.”This ensures integration between departments, saving time and effort involved and protecting rights of both workers and employers,” he said. Al Suwaidi said the Laboiur Ministry is open to proposals from workers, employers and other stakeholders including establishing a one-stop shop to complete transactions at the ministries of labour and interior. The Ministry of Labour last year referred to the public prosecution 297 companies proved to be closed and which had many workers still on their sponsorship. Last year, the Ministry of Labour processed as many as one million applications for new work permits, another million for renewal of these permits, one million applications for new job contract and a million for renewing job contracts.