Expats
will be able to act as official work sponsors for their dependents from January,
a senior Ministry of Labour official told Arabian Business.
The
official said that the sponsorship role traditionally reserved for companies
will now extend to spouses and parents, currently on a work permit in the UAE,
who want to sponsor their relatives.
“Your
dependents can now be sponsored by you if you’re an expat,” he said.
He
also said teenagers between 16 and 18 would now legally be able to work
part-time jobs, though they would be highly regulated.
“This
matches international labour practice,” he said.
He
added that part-time workers’ conditions currently go largely unregulated.
“Nobody
can guarantee the rights of the workers or the company that pays them,” he
said. “We’ll maintain [workers’] rights so nobody can abuse these part-timers
and teenagers.”
The
changes, the source said, will affect quality of life in the expat community.
“Local
women – especially housewives – and students can now have very flexible working
hours,” he said. “We believe it will help families and the market. For expats,
it’s another income-generating tool. And it will energize the existing ‘human
capital’ of the [labour] market.”
Expats
with permits sponsored by a full-time employer will now also be able to work a
second part-time job, he added.
“You
can now legally work part-time if you have a full-time job. We want people to
make money.”
The
rules fall under a widespread overhaul of labour and visa laws affecting the
UAE’s foreign workforce. Last month also saw the announcement that, as of
January 1, labour card validity will be reduced from three years to two years.
Skilled
expat workers will also no longer need a no-objection certificate from former
employers to take up a new job.
Under
previous labour laws, employers can refuse to issue a certificate of
no-objection, resulting in expatriate workers having to leave the country for
six months.
The
official said the Ministry planned further changes to improve the country’s job
market.
“More
decrees are coming, to maintain a healthy relationship between employers and
employees.”
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