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Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Labour has amended rules for sponsorship transfer allowing expatriates to change their jobs without having to spend one year with their original sponsors, a senior official said on Thursday.
Humaid Bin Deemas, Assistant Undersecretary at the ministry, told Gulf News that earlier an exemption from the minister was needed in order to be able to transfer sponsorship before completing one year.
"However, since two weeks exemptions are no longer needed but the NOC from the previous sponsor is still a prerequisite and the applicant will have to pay a fee of Dh500 for each month remaining to complete this mandatory period. The procedure could be done at the customer service counter at the ministry and applicants no longer need to approach the minister's office," said Bin Deemas.
Khalil Khoury, the Director of Work Permits Department, said as per the rule, anybody wishing to transfer sponsorship before completion of the mandatory period specified by the MOL would have to pay a fee of Dh3,000. Apart from this a fee of Dh500 would have to be paid for each month remaining to complete this mandatory period.
He added that the cost of sponsorship transfer depends on the qualification of the concerned employee. For instance, a person with Master's degree would have to pay Dh1,500 for approval while a person with low educational qualification will have to pay Dh 5,000 for the same. The cost of approval of internal work permit to move to another company owned by the same sponsor is Dh500.
New counter
"Even before the new rule was implemented, people could transfer their sponsorship without completing the mandatory period with their sponsors, but this required the approval of the Assistant Undersecretary. With the new rule in place, people can complete the sponsorship transfer procedures at the counter itself, after obligatory fines are paid," Khoury said. A new counter has been opened at the MOL to accept applications.
The original sponsor should sign in the application for cancellation, which means the consent of the sponsor is essential to facilitate the transfer process.
Not many people are availing this facility, said Khoury, citing high costs as the reason. "We have not received many requests to facilitate sponsorship transfer because of the high costs involved. Labourers and workers in the low-income group would find it hard to shell out so much money for this purpose."
Your comments
I don't think this is any beneficial change for employees since they will still need to get NOC from the company. Restrictions like this will stop newer talents from relocating here.
Hanin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 16, 2007, 12:49
There should be rules for employers. Giving the employee the privilege to move doesn't mean that one can actually move. While the NOC exists, it is still all in the hands of the employer, who may take advantage of the situation.
Muhammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 16, 2007, 12:46
It is a useless move since most companies do not issue NOC, even if the required duration of stay was met. It would be better if, upon the completion of the mandatory period, NOC would no longer be a requirement.
Domingo
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: November 16, 2007, 11:22
With the NOC policy, it is not possible to change to better jobs, especially if the employer will refuse to issue one.
Mathew
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 16, 2007, 10:56
The NOC should only be required if the company has been inspected by the MOL and complies with local labour law 100 per cent. It is unjust to penalise an employee when the company is not in conformance with the labour law.
Sanjiv
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 16, 2007, 10:55
A nice move in favour of the few who can afford to pay and get NOC. But this has no positive impact to the many who cannot afford to bear the cost and in no way can get an NOC. NOC is nothing but just a form of harassment from self-centred employers.
Marlito
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: November 16, 2007, 10:54
I suggest that the new work permit be issued without requiring an NOC from the previous employer. An employee should be free to change his current employer (and vice versa) by giving the normal one month notice.
Murtaza
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 16, 2007, 10:44
I think the NOC policy will only prevent employees from job hopping frequently.
Bob
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 16, 2007, 10:30
How conflicting. The law says you can leave anytime but there's the NOC thing. If the employer will not issue it then you can't leave.
Collin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 16, 2007, 10:29
In most cases, the reason for changing employment is due to employee dissatisfaction or maltreatment by the employer. However, the employee still needs to get an NOC from the employer, which only makes it harder for the employee to leave.
Joseph
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 16, 2007, 08:56
This is not an impressive move from MOL. MOL should issue new work permits without insisting for NOC from previous sponsors.
From a reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 16, 2007, 08:30
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