22 April 2008

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Labour has scrapped the degree verification system introduced in 2005.

Effective on Tuesday, certificates can no longer be verified by applying to Emirates Post, which used to verify the certificates via Integra Screen, a private company offering document verification services to applicants as part of their tie-up with the labour ministry.

Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash, Minister of Labour, yesterday issued law No 240 of 2008 that replaces and nullifies the effects of law No 851 of 2005. And the procedures have returned to what they used to be prior to 2005's law.

Fake degrees

Expatriate job applicants will have to go through the attestation process in their own countries and produce the documents before their country's embassy in the UAE and get the attestation from the Foreign Ministry before their visa application can be completed.

If the certificates prove to be fake, then the visa application process will be stopped.

The decree also annuls any punishments or penalties stipulated by the previous law.

If a person whose certificate cannot be attested for a job is already in the country, then as per the new decree, it will be the responsibility of the company to send the person back to his/her country.

A special committee has been formed to review the law.

By Rayeesa Absal

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