UNLICENSED NURSERIES SHUT DOWN BY AJMAN
▶ Closures may leave low-income residents with childcare problems
Two nurseries operating in Ajman without business licences have been shut by the emirate’s Department of Economic Development and the Ministry of Education after a complaint.
Majed Al Suwaidi, director of the consumer protection section, said tighter supervision of all education institutions in Ajman was needed.
He warned that action will be taken against offenders.
“The department is regularly inspecting educational institutions and nurseries to check if their licences are valid and if they are complying with the set requirements,” Mr Al Suwaidi said.
“These regular inspections aim to protect the next generation, promote parents’ rights, and shield our children from any risk or danger.”
Some Ajman residents resort to “home nurseries” that operate outside of the authorities’ control because of the high cost of fees at the licensed centres.
“I work from 12 to 12 now and I have no other place to take my daughter,” said a Moroccan baker who works in Al Muwaihat.
“Even when I worked the 6am to 6pm shift, I struggled to find a nursery to care for my daughter. My only option was a home nursery because it’s cheaper, they start earlier and keep the child for longer hours.
The baker said the home nursery cost Dh600 a month compared with legal nurseries’ fees of between Dh1,200 and Dh1,500, which she could not afford on her low salary.
Under federal law, home nurseries are strictly forbidden because they may fall below health and safety standards, and operators face a fine of up to Dh10,000, said lawyer Awatif Mohammed, from Al Rowaad Advocates.
Ms Mohammed said that if any child was injured or died while in the care of an illegal nursery, the operator would face criminal charges.
“If the child is injured the person could face up to two years in prison but if, God forbid, a child died, the person would face up to 10 years,” she said.
In 2015, a Pakistani girl, 2, died after falling on her head
If the child is injured the person could face two years, but if a child died that person would face up to 10 years AWATIF MOHAMMED Lawyer
in a nursery being run from the Dubai International City flat of a woman from Pakistan.
“I visited the apartment to make sure everything was fine, then I kept my only child with her for Dh650 a month,” said the toddler’s mother.
The unlicensed nanny, 31, was convicted of assaulting the safety of the child and causing her death through head injuries while in her care.
The court sentenced her to a year in jail to be followed by deportation, but later ordered the suspension of the sentence and the woman was deported immediately.