Workers must be in UAE while switching jobs

Workers seeking to switch sponsorship must be inside the UAE at the time of such a procedure in line with new labour decisions issued by the country early this year, according to the Ministry of Labour.

The ministry was responding to a request by a company for approval of an application by an Arab engineer to transfer his sponsorship after he was sacked by another firm in the UAE, 'Al Ittihad' newspaper reported on Tuesday.

But the ministry rejected the application after it found out that the engineer had left the UAE three months ago and his work permit had been scrapped.

“The ministry turned down the application because the engineer was outside the UAE…as a result, a new work permit will only be issued for him one year after the date of his departure,” the ministry said.

“The presence of a worker inside the UAE before any cancellation of residence or work permit is essential for completing procedures to transfer sponsorship.”