Nationals and expats welcome 'no ban' law

Nationals and expatriates have welcomed the revised labour law that allows expatriate workers to change sponsors on completion of a full contract period of two years.

Yusuf Obaid Al Nuaimi Member of Federal National Council, who had submitted a questioning to the Minister of Labour about modifying the sponsorship system last week confirmed “the new procedures directly affect the reputation of the UAE abroad where the message carried by these amendments confirms that the UAE does not limit the freedom of any laborer in the selection of his work.”

He said the two-year period of each contract – reduced from three – is sufficient for the employer to recover the costs incurred in bringing the worker to the country.

Meanwhile Amer Al Zuriqat the Regional Director of, Bayt.com the company, said these measures come in context with the developments related to the global financial crisis. He said they takes into account the emergent situation kicked off by the global financial crisis.

He said, “the new measures are necessary to attract foreign investments and international companies, and to keep the UAE as a magnet in the region and enhance the competitiveness of these companies.”

He said these measures will improve the country’s labour market and help attract quality workers.

Hussein Majid Al Menhali, public relations officer in the German Zeppelin company that specialises in construction of roads, said the new measures were “primarily in the interest of stabilising the labour market.”

He said the new rules will be in good stead for companies that give workers their rights. “Many workers are willing to continue in a comfortable work environment, even if the incentives were less.”

Labour adviser Mustafa Abdul Hadi said the facility to transfer employers will eliminate the phenomenon of absconding. Quoting official figures, he said thousands of workers abscond every year since many of them know they would otherwise not be allowed to work for any other company.

He however added that points like the non-competition clause that does not allow workers to join a rival company needs to be clarified by the ministry.

Migrante-Middle East, and its UAE chapter termed it as a welcome move. Nhel Morona, Secretary General of Migrante-UAE said: “We welcome the move by the UAE government when it eases its ‘sponsor’ rule as it would give leeway and freedom to expatriate workers in terms of travel and the opportunity to change and look for a better job within the UAE.”

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.