Labour ministry in fine warning to employers over eLabour cards

Employers will face a Dh1,000 fine if they do not apply for the electronic permits within 60 days, the ministry said.

DUBAI // The Ministry of Labour has urged employers to apply for eLabour cards and electronic permits within 60 days of a worker joining a company or face a Dh1,000 fine for each month’s delay, in a plan to replace plastic cards and paper contracts from Sunday.

More than 200 employers were also told on Wednesday about how the new cards would work and warned of harsh measures if they failed to obtain cards on time.

“Employers can apply for electronic labour cards and contracts through Tas’heel service centres or within their companies only if they were registered under Tas’heel,” said Humaid bin Deemas, assistant undersecretary for Labour Affairs at the ministry.

He said after they had applied for the electronic services the ministry would grant the applicant a preliminary approval and issue permits electronically. The data would then be sent to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs for completion.

Mr bin Deemas said employers and workers could check work permits and contracts through the ministry’s e-netwasal service.