Member questions high-cost electricity connection
RAK member also queries the security of labour cards
Concerns over a purported rise in the cost of connecting residential properties to the electricity grid will be raised at the Federal National Council tomorrow. FNC member Salem Al Shehhi has asked the Minister of Energy, Suhail Al Mazrouei, about what he claims is a “300 per cent increase” in charges.
He said he has received complaints from UAE nationals over social media and in person.
“This is a big increase and im- poses a burden on nationals because their income remains the same,” Mr Al Shehhi said. He claimed that there had been cases in which the charges reached Dh100,000. The Ras Al Khaimah member also questioned the Minister of Labour, Saqr Ghobash, about what he said were insecure labour cards that could be forged.
“I heard of some cases concerning farmers, fishermen, public service workers ... escaping from an emirate to the other, or altering his card to work for another,” Mr Al Shehhi said.
He proposed that the cards be modernised and made similar to the Emirates ID.
Mr Ghobash also took a question from Naama Al Sharhan, representing Ras Al Khaimah, about Emiratisation in public shareholding companies.
“Those companies have billions in capital, and are investing billions in the country and making a fortune while on UAE grounds,” said the member representing Ras Al Khaimah.
“So why not allocate room for Emirati resources?” The member also summoned the Minister for Climate Change and Environment, Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, to answer her question from the previous session. She asked that the import of certain fruit and vegetables be limited in certain seasons in the UAE to protect local producers.
The FNC will also discuss the justice ministry’s policy surrounding court hearings that are slow to process.