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Renewal of temporary work permits possible

ABU DHABI — The six-month temporary work permit that allows employees to work with companies other than their sponsors can be renewed, said a top labour official.

The ministry had earlier issued a decree stipulating that the grace period permissible for certain professions, mainly highly educated category, will be provided only once.

“The six-month permit will not be renewed consecutively (if there were a considerable gap before applying for renewal). The ministry will consider that a gap between the issuance of the first permit and the application for renewal has existed,” said the official. However, he said, certain exceptions are likely to be considered, especially in humanitarian cases.

“We are dealing with human beings. That is why we should be somehow flexible and consider the humanitarian situation of the employees,” said the official. Regarding employees involved in labour dispute with their employers, the official said: “Under the cabinet decree on temporary work permit, this category will be provided only once with the grace period to work in the country.”