Labour permit transactions to go online from May 27

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Dubai: Work permit transactions will be conducted online throughout the country from May 27, according to a new Ministry of Labour circular.

According to the new circular issued by Dr Ali Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Minister of Labour on May 15, approved work permits notification will be posted on the Ministry's website www.mol.gov.ae.

Humaid Bin Deemas, Assistant Undersecretary at the ministry, said the decision aims to speed up the transaction process for companies across the country.

"The new procedures will make us less dependent on typing offices, as the transactions will be processed online. The electronic processing of work permits will also help prevent forgery," said Deemas.

Notification
As part of the new rule, work permits will no longer be sent to Emirates Post and applicants will have to print out the notification of approving the work permit from the ministry's website and then pay the work permit fees and bank warranty to complete the transaction.

The applicant will later have to submit the notification letter to the respective licensing department at the ministry so he can be given the work permit to later process it at the respective Naturalisation and Residency Department (NRD).

However, companies in Dubai, as a consequence of the electronic link, will have to just print the notification of transferring the work permit to the DNRD and they can pay their work permit fees and bank warranty at the DNRD.

Dedicated hour

All head of departments at the Ministry of Labour will have to dedicate an hour twice a week to public enquiries, according to a new circular.

Dr Ali Abdullah Al Kaabi, Minister of Labour, issued a circular on May 17, with effect immediately, stipulating that all the heads of the departments have to be available at the customer service unit every Sunday and Tuesday between 9 am to 10 am to deal with public enquiries. This decision is in line with the open door policy that the ministry is always keen to implement, said Al Kaabi.

Procedures before
Go to ministry to submit the application. Ministry will investigate and send its decision to the Post office.

Applicant had to go to post office to receive the ministry decision. Pay another visit to the post to pay the fees and bank warranty before issuing the work permit.

Pay another visit to ministry to print the work permit.

Take the work permit to DNRD to issue the residency.

Procedures now
Still have to submit the application by hand to ministry.

The ministry posts the decision online.

Applicant has to print the decision (Dubai-based companies print only the transfer notification). Applicant takes the print out to the NRD.

Pay fees and bank warranty at the bank or typing office. (Dubai-based companies pay it in DNRD)

Pay a visit to the licensing department at the ministry to get the work permit.