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Pakistani teachers told to pay for labour cards

DUBAI — Several female teachers of Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistani School in Dubai, which operates under the patronage of Pakistan Consulate in Dubai, have said that the school authorities have asked them to pay for the renewal of their labour cards.

Asma Ali Zain

Published: Wed 14 Sep 2005, 10:29 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 9:19 PM

Khaleej Times learnt that several teachers have been issued notices by the school authorities asking them to pay for their own labour cards and the accompanying fines as several cards had not been renewed by the school authorities.

The public relations officer of the school, speaking on behalf of the principal, Sayed Razi Shah Kazmi, denied the allegations, but said the school had asked some teachers to pay half their salary for renewals which would be paid back to them in due course. "We are a community school, therefore, we do not earn much from school fees, and as all transaction costs in the Ministry of Labour have gone up. We have just asked the teachers to cooperate with the school and help us pay the fees for labour card renewal while all fines will be paid by us," he said. Acting Consul-General at the Pakistan Consulate, Najeeb Durrani, said he was not aware of the matter.

Stating that the consul-general was the chairman of board of governors of the school, he said : "If such a practice is being carried out, it is not right because as employers, the school is responsible for tackling labour issues. I will look into the matter," he said. One of the teachers said, on condition of anonymity, "We are not paid a big salary by the school and it would take two months' salaries to make up the required fees i.e., Dh3, 400,” she said. It was also learnt that the teachers had drafted a complaint against the matter, which had been signed, by all of those who have been asked to pay from their own pockets for labour card renewal.