UAE To Fine Firms Dhs1000 For Delays In Applying For E-Labour Cards

The UAE’s ministry of labour has said that it will issue hefty fines on firms that delay applying for electronic employment contracts and labour cards, state news agency WAM reported.

All companies are required to apply for the e-contracts within 60 days of a worker joining the company. Failure to do so would result in a fine of Dhs1,000 per month, the ministry warned.

The ministry added that it will stop issuing any new work permits to companies who do not apply for the electronic contracts on time.

Electronic labour cards and employment contracts, which will be issued from Sunday onwards, will replace the use of plastic cards and paper contracts.

“Employers can apply for electronic labour cards and contracts through Tas’heel service centres across the UAE or within their companies only if they were registered under Tas’heel,” the ministry said.

Following the electronic application by the company, the ministry will grant the applicant preliminary approval and then issue the electronic permits. The data will then be sent to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs to complete their residency procedures.

Both employers and workers can check the status of their work permit and contract through a new ‘e-netwasal’ service that is available on the official website, the ministry said.

Emirates identity cards will henceforth be used as the official identification documents instead of labour cards.

The UAE has been steadily pushing its way to become a smart and mobile government with plans to offer most of its services online.

The government recently launched a YouTube channel to disseminate information regarding its services. The UAE also launched the mobile wallet programme that facilitates online payments for 90 official services.