UAE CONTINUES AMNESTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003201 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL AND EB/CBA E.O. 12958: 07/08/08 TAGS: ELAB PREL PHUM PGOV SOCI CVIS TC SUBJECT: UAE CONTINUES AMNESTY REF: A) ABU DHABI 2969 AND PREVIOUS B) ABU DHABI 945 ¶1. (U) Classified by A/DCM Katherine Van de Vate for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D). ¶2. (U) The UAEG officially claimed that 100,000 illegal immigrants "benefited" from the amnesty which began January 1, 2003, and that 40,000 illegals have been arrested over the past few months. The Labor Ministry instigated the amnesty in hopes of removing illegal workers and establishing better control over the UAE labor market (see ref A). Though the amnesty was extended until the end of June from its original April 30 deadline, the UAEG has now officially declared that illegals can continue to apply for exit visas indefinitely. ¶3. (C) Comment: Though the amnesty failed to live up to expectations, the UAEG has decided to save face and declare victory. Based on conversations with foreign labor attaches, we reported in mid-June that approximately 60,000 workers had departed the UAE -- this estimate was in line with publicized official reports at the time. In recent follow-up phone conversations with the foreign labor attaches, all agreed that the UAEG was exaggerating both the number of people who departed as well as the number arrested. By claiming to take a hard line against illegal immigrants, but leaving the door open for departure, the UAEG hopes that more illegals will leave the country. However, workers do not fear getting caught - - even though they are threatened with jail time and financial penalties if caught, they know the reality is that they will simply be deported. The UAE will not be able to control the illegal labor market via amnesties; true reform will only be possible when the UAEG cracks down on UAE nationals profiting from the "free visa" scheme (see ref B). End comment. Wahba