More than 200,000 expatriate
businessmen who hold labor cards have a month from tomorrow to cancel and
transfer them to Department of Naturalization and Residency, a senior
official said.
"During the grace period, which will end on July 20, these businessmen will
be exempted from any fines incurred because of failure to renew them on
time," said Humaid bin Deemas, assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of
Labor and Social Affairs.
"Those who fail to benefit from the grace period will get their permits
cancelled automatically once the period ends. They will have to pay fines.
The residency department will not process their documents unless they
produce a certificate from the labor ministry saying they have cancelled
their labor cards," he added.
Labor cards not renewed for six months will incur a fine of Dh500, six
months to a year will get a fine of Dh1,000 and Dh2,000 for more than a
year.
A decision issued by Matar Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of Labor and Social
Affairs, this month invited businessmen and self-employed craftsmen to take
advantage of the grace period.
Those who do not employ workers are now obtaining their residence visas from
the residency departments.
Those employing up to five workers, however, continue to get their permits
from the labor ministry.
Managers-cum-partners are also allowed to get a labor card and a residence
visa. Other partners are only entitled to businessman's status.
Under the move, people in charge of businesses of any size working with a
UAE national partner do not have to obtain a labor card from the labor
ministry.
Once businessmen obtain a license from the Economic Department and the
residence visa is stamped in his/her passport he or she can start working
immediately. The economic departments issue trade licenses to businessmen
and residency departments stamp their residence visa.
The labor ministry will only deal with their permits. Officials believe the
new measures will curb fraud in visas or labor permits.
Many UAE businessmen agree and believe that the term businessperson should
be changed to either businesswoman or businessman.
"All measures should be taken to ensure facilities are given to those who
deserve them, and to investments needed by the country, rather than marginal
activities that have no economic return," said Mansour Ibrahim Rashid, a UAE
businessman, adding that fictitious investments and companies that trade in
visas should not be allowed to operate in the country.
He urged authorities issuing licenses to plug loopholes, saying some enter
the country on business visas.
Cases have even been uncovered where businessmen have received investor
licenses by putting as little as Dh3,000 into a company.
The UAE is set to pass a new law giving foreign investors more incentives
and expanding their ownership of projects to spur economic growth.
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has completed drafting the FDI law and
sent it to each emirate's government for approval before it is presented in
its final form to the cabinet for endorsement.
REGULATIONS
Attempt to keep fraudsters at bay
Businessmen who hold labor cards were asked to cancel and transfer them to
the Department of Naturalization and Residency.
A recently issued decision stipulated that businessmen and self-employed
craftsmen who employ more than five staff should obtain residence visas from
the residency departments, and not from the labor ministry.
Craftsmen owning businesses that employ up to five workers will receive
their permits from the labor ministry.
Those who fail to transfer their permits during the grace period will have
them cancelled automatically, and will incur fines.
Officials believe the new move will curb fraud in visas and labor permits.
The UAE will soon pass a new law giving foreign investors more incentives to
expand their ownership on projects.
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