UAE - MANDATORY SUBMISSION OF JOB OFFERS ALONG

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002131 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL, G/TIP, AND EB/CBA STATE PASS OPIC/OPIC INTERNATIONAL POLICY DEPARTMENT FOR VIRGINIA GREEN AND CONSTANCE SHINN STATE PASS USTR JASON BUNTIN USDOC FOR ITA/MAC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PREL PHUM PGOV SOCI CVIS GTIP TC SUBJECT: UAE - MANDATORY SUBMISSION OF JOB OFFERS ALONG WITH WORK VISA APPLICATIONS ¶1. (U) STARTING OCTOBER 1, 2004, THE UAE MINISTRY OF LABOR WILL REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO SUBMIT JOB OFFERS STATING THE SALARY AND JOB TITLE OF THEIR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES AT THE SAME TIME EMPLOYERS SUBMIT VISA APPLICATIONS. THE CURRENT PRACTICE IS FOR EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT DETAILS ON THE VISA APPLICATIONS ONLY, BUT THERE IS NOTHING BINDING ON THE EMPLOYER. THIS MANDATE IS INTENDED TO MAKE EMPLOYERS MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE INFORMATION THEY PROVIDE WHEN APPLYING FOR WORK VISAS ON BEHALF OF EMPLOYEES. IT ALSO AIMS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS, WHO SOMETIMES ARRIVE IN THE UAE FOR A SPECIFIC JOB AND SALARY AND INSTEAD ARE PUT TO WORK IN OTHER EMPLOYMENT, OR ARE GIVEN SALARIES INFERIOR TO WHAT THEY WERE PROMISED. ¶2. (SBU) THE UAE IS CONTINUING TO EXERT MORE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE LABOR SITUATION AND TO DECREASE DISPUTES BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES. THIS LATEST IMPROVEMENT IN THE LAW ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF EXPATRIATE UNSKILLED WORKERS WHO, IN MANY CASES, ARE VICTIMIZED BY EMPLOYERS WHO MAKE FALSE COMMITMENTS ABOUT JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND SALARIES. THE "GULF NEWS" ON JUNE 26 CITED AN EXAMPLE OF A BANGLADESHI GIRL WHO HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO THE UAE AS A HOUSEMAID, AND INSTEAD WAS FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION. WE ARE FOLLOWING UP WITH UAE AUTHORITIES. ALBRIGHT