His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued a resolution revising the Ministry of Labour’s fees and fines.

Shaikh Mohammed issued Cabinet Resolution No. 10 for the year 2012, amending some of the administrative fines in Cabinet Resolution No. 27 for the year 2010. According to www.sheikhmohammed.ae, the new fines’ scheme will be effective from August 1.

Delay in renewing a labour card for 60 days or more after its expiry will invite a fine of Dh1,000 per month even if the delay is only for less than a month, according to the new resolution. The fine for the failure to get a mission labour card issued even 30 days after the date of entry or renew it even seven days after its expiry is Dh100 per day. All these fines are effective from January 1, 2011.

The companies having falsified Emiratisation records will invite a fine of Dh20,000 per employee and the same amount will be levied from the companies for providing incorrect information in the Wage Protection System (WPS) to evade or manipulate the regulations per case.

Non-settlement of employee’s wage for 60 days will attract a fine of Dh5,000 per employee with the maximum of Dh50,000 if the case includes more than one employee. Firms forcing employees to sign documents showing that the payment of their dues was made will have to pay the same amount as fine. According to the new resolution, Dh20,000 is the fine per case for non-compliance with the labourers’ housing and accommodation regulations and for not employing the worker for a period exceeding two months. Charging the worker for the visa and employment fees or deducting such fees from his wage without any ad hoc law or legislation will attract a fine of Dh20,000. The same amount will be the fine if the firm doesn’t comply with the Emirati employment policies and procedures, doesn’t respond to the Ministry of Labour’s summons within the time frame specified by the ministry or submits false documents or information to the ministry. Not reporting absconding workers in compliance with the relevant rules and regulations and filing a malicious absconding report will also attract a fine of Dh20,000.

The company will be fined Dh15,000 if it flouts the midday break rule. The failure to subscribe to the wage protection system, adhere to the professional health and safety standards, report work injuries, occupational diseases or a worker’s death to the ministry, and/or failure to follow medical hazards and emergency procedures will attract a fine of Dh10,000 per case.