UAE to revoke 6-month labour ban from Jan

The New Year will herald a ban-free labour sector in the country, much to the relief of millions of expatriates.
The Ministry of Labour said that beginning January 2016, it will revoke the six months ban rule, if employee and employer opt for mutual termination of work permit.
The new rule is part of the new resolutions issued by Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash in September.
Humaid Rashid bin Dimas Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary at Ministry of Labour, said that under the new resolution, employees who wish to terminate job contract with a consent from their employers will be allowed to move to other companies, even if they have not completed two years at the workplace.
However, workers in grade IV and V who have not completed six months with the first job are exempted from this rule, he added.
Al Suwaidi said that currently workers who have even completed two years are also not allowed to move to another company immediately. They are allowed to join another job only after a period of six months from the date of cancellation of the work permit, he added.
Al Suwaidi confirmed that the new rule aims to attract and retain talent, and is in line with the strategic goal of the government to being a knowledge-based economy attracting global talent.
He said the ministry aims to promote workers from within the country rather than bringing them from abroad, especially people with expertise.
salah@khaleejtimes.com