UAE expat advisory handbook aims at awareness of emirati laws

UAE authorities have issued an ‘expats’ charter’ handbook in an effort to create awareness of local laws and cultural norms.

According to a statement from the authorities, the new handbook is intended to progress human rights by means of enlightening expat workers as to the region’s laws, rights and duties. Eventually, the handbook, available in English, Urdu and Arabic, will be distributed amongst all levels of Dubai’s one million foreign workers.

After announcing the new handbook, the deputy director of the General Directorate for Residency and Foreigner Affairs said the guidelines outlined in the book are a model for all foreign workers to plan their lives according to the emirates’ laws and cultural norms. The move, he added, came after Dubai’s Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs publicised the details of a smart app designed to help the UAE’s expat employees to stay in touch and be aware of their personal rights and responsibilities.

According to the deputy director, the region is concerned that many workers are not aware of their rights, leaving them vulnerable to violation by employers as well as to making unintentional mistakes due to lack of awareness. A common crime committed by employees is taking on a second job with an employer who is not their sponsor, for which the fine is Dh50,000. Rights to salaries, days off, public holidays, medical benefits, accommodation allowances, overtime, working hours, and of service benefits and more may not be properly understood by many employees. Before the handbook is distributed in full, it will be given to 100,000 employees at Dubai’s medical fitness centres’ training centres.