UAE: Overstaying domestic worker gets help from authorities; here's what she did

A domestic worker in the UAE, who ran away from her employer, had been living in the country illegally — until she approached the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre), which stepped in and helped her.

Mohre shared Irene's story in an awareness video it posted online on Tuesday, hoping to send a message about the importance of rectifying one’s visa status.

Irene said she needed money for her son's education at that time, and a friend convinced her to run away and promised a job that offered a higher salary.

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Instead of seeking help from her employer, she believed her friend, escaped — and that was when her nightmare began.

"Those promises made by my friend were just words. I ended up living in this country illegally, can't work, can't go out, no support. I was illegally alone," Irene said in the video.

She overstayed her visa, racking up hefty fines. After several months, she decided to face the consequences of her actions and turned herself in.

“They appreciated me (Mohre) for taking the decision, and fixed my situation," she said.

Mohre called Irene "courageous" for ultimately deciding to do the right thing.

With the video, the ministry urged illegal residents to rectify their status immediately.

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