By IANS
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Friday warned that illegal immigrants found staying in the country after the November deadline for amnesty will be sternly dealt with.
Labour Minister Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi said the interior ministry has directed the labour inspectors to identify workers without valid papers and take legal action for violation of immigration and labour laws, WAM news agency reported.
“The labour-related problems facing the ministry include violation of employment contract terms, failing to renew work permits for workers, absconding, hiring undocumented workers and the fact that some employers not only hire illegal residents but also help them hide from the authorities,” Al Kaabi said.
He said his ministry would coordinate with the interior ministry in implementing labour regulations and take strict measures against violators including banning and prosecution of companies that hire illegal residents.
A senior officer of the ministry said that around 300,000 migrants had either regularised their papers or left the country. UAE had an estimated 350,000 illegal migrant workers, he said.
The three-month amnesty had been announced to help migrant workers without valid travel document to regularise their status or leave the country without inviting penalty for violating the country’s residency law.