Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI3201
2003-07-08 12:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE CONTINUES AMNESTY
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/21/2007 12:21:55 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS TELEGRAM July 08, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 3201 - ROUTINE) TAGS: ELAB, PREL, PHUM, PGOV, SOCI, CVIS Captions: None Subject: UAE CONTINUES AMNESTY Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 03201 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: P/M AMB DCM POL Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: A/DCM: KVANDEVATE DRAFTED: ECON: GARANA CLEARED: ECON: OBJOHN VZCZCADI915 RR RUEHC RUCPDOC RUEHZM DE RUEHAD #3201 1891258 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 081258Z JUL 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0776 INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE
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
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
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