Dubai sees decrease in illegal workers
AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS AND INSPECTIONS HELP REDUCE NUMBERS
Around 4,250 illegal residents were arrested in the first quarter of this year with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA-Dubai) reporting a decrease in the number of illegals being employed in Dubai.
“Previously, around 40 illegals, working for a single institution, would be arrested at a time,” Maj Gen Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, DirectorGeneral of the GDRFA, said. “It seems that this has declined as a result of awareness campaigns, which emphasise the dangers of employing illegal workers and those not registered with the Ministry of Labour.”
According to Maj Gen Al Merri, most illegals are between the ages of 30 and 39, unmarried and men. Most of the women illegals work as domestic helpers. Those hiring illegal workers also face penalties.
“The GDRFA conducts regular awareness campaigns and inspections on the 165,000 institutions in the city to ensure they are not employing illegals,” Maj Gen Al Merri said, “Employing illegal workers has an adverse effect on the local economy.”
Maj Gen Al Merri said the GDRFA is a direct branch of the Ministry of Interior and that there is a constant correspondence between the department More than 13,940 illegal residents were arrested in 2013 and 14,400 in 2014. In 2014, 281 institutions were fined for employing illegals, which included 57 working without a sponsorship, 56 working under a visit visa and 54 who were working without sponsorship alongside failure to provide proper identification documents, and absconding. GDRFA conducts a minimum of 36 awareness campaigns about illegals every month. and relevant authorities such as Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality and the Ministry of Labour.
Colonel Khalifa Ahmad Al Gaith, Assistant to the Director-General for follow up of law violators, said the department inspects a number of areas around Dubai but is not responsible for inspections conducted in free zones.
‘Double check’
“There are around 165,000 institutions in Dubai,” he said. “We ensure that the workers we arrest don’t have sponsors before we take them into custody. We double check all the paperwork given to us with the GDRFA.”
Col Al Gaith said the inspections were conducted without prior notice. “We carry out the surprise inspection from 7.30am to 10pm. There are about 18 officers in every inspection patrol. In 2014, we carried out about 200 inspections in Deira and Bur Dubai alone.”
“We carry out three inspections with the Dubai Municipality, which run throughout the year,” he said, “as well as other campaigns run in tandem with Dubai Police, Ministry of Labour, and the Ministry of Economy.”
Surprise inspections
According to Col Al Gaith, the campaigns outline the dangers of employing workers who are not officially registered. “Preventing the problem is more effective than trying to thwart its impacts.”
Col Al Gaith gave a few case studies of illegal workers arrested in the city. “In April, 27 women were arrested for working illegally at a massage parlour in Dubai. We also carried out a surprise inspection in tandem with the Dubai Municipality at the vegetable market in Al Aweer, where we arrested nine illegals. In December last year, we arrested eight illegals who were employed at a garage. More than 30 men and 50 women were also arrested after recent surprise inspections in Al Hamriya and Al Rifaa.”
Col Al Gaith advised the public to contact Amer’s toll-free number 80051111 for more information on the matter or to lodge a complaint.