Thursday, Jul 17, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Work to integrate labour cards with national identity cards marked a major milestone on Tuesday with an agreement between the Ministry of Labour (MoL) and the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA).
The EIDA will have access to the MoL's database to integrate labour cards with national identity cards, as per the agreement signed by the two entities. The agreement between the MoL and EIDA will facilitate identity cards being issued to about 3.1 million workers in the country. Ministry officials said they would encourage employers to facilitate registration of their employees for identity cards.
As Gulf News reported earlier, work was in progress to integrate the UAE national identity card with the Ministry of Labour and health sector. The integration of the identity card with the Ministry of Interior has already been done which enables UAE citizens to use the card as an e-passport while travelling to GCC countries, Darwish Al Zarouni, Director-General of EIDA had earlier told Gulf News.
"The card will eventually enable holders to use it for labour cards, driving licences, health facilities and travelling to GCC countries [for citizens only] and e-payments."
Al Zarouni had said EIDA has been entrusted a project worth $55 million (Dh202 million) to issue about 5 million ID cards to both citizens and expatriates by 2010.
Technical work has been completed to integrate E-Dirham and the E-gate facilities with national identity cards. The E-Dirham service includes using the identity card as an e-wallet to pay for various services offered by ministries, government departments and companies that use E-dirhams. Identity card holders can activate it at any E-dirham service point when it is announced.
The E-gate card provides a fast-track immigration clearance using smart technology and a fingerprint scan.
EIDA issued a warning that strict action would be considered against residents who do not register for identity cards. Emiratis have to finish registration by the end of this year and expatriate employees in the government sector by October.
How to register
Customers can fill in the registration form on www.emiratesid.ae and print it out to submit at any of the 24 registration centres in the country. Non-net savvy customers can approach typing centres at the registration centres to prepare the application forms. To find out the locations and opening times of the centres and documents required visit the website or call the EIDA call centre on 600 523 432.
People looking to register from the comfort of their homes can contact EIDA's call centre and make an appointment for its mobile registration service. The service charge is Dh500 per family (apart from the registration fee), provided all family members are registered in the same family book or under one sponsorship, in addition to Dh10 for every family member.
Fees
Citizens have to pay Dh115 for five years. Dh65 for 15 years or younger, including postage. Expatriates have to pay Dh100 per annum. (The fee has to be paid for the duration of their residence visa). Identity cards for children below 15 years are optional but registration with the population register is compulsory and costs Dh50.
By Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.
