65 UAE firms face prosecution for hiring illegals

zoom

FACING PROSECUTION: Sixty-five companies have been caught hiring illegal workers. Picture for illustrative purposes only. (Getty Images)

The owners of more than 60 UAE companies face the prospect of being deported or jailed after they were caught employing illegal workers.

Mohsen Saeed Al Nessi, director of the inspection department, said on Sunday 95 workers had been found working for 65 firms in Abu Dhabi and Dubai without work permits, labour contracts, health insurance or labour cards, reported UAE daily Khaleej Times.

Al Nessi said the companies have been referred to the public prosecution.

The move comes after a crackdown on companies hiring workers illegally following a four-month amnesty ending at the start of November last year, during which illegal workers were given the opportunity to legalise their status or leave the country.

RELATED: UAE pledges crackdown as amnesty ends

If convicted the companies and their owners face harsh penalties, including heavy fines for the company, deportation followed by a life ban from the UAE for expatriate owners and at least six months in jail for Emirati owners.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM