If you sponsor a housekeeper and their residence visa is about to expire, you could be subject to a fine for failing to renew their employment agreement on time, even though the visa was renewed for the required amount of time.
This is due to the possibility that the visa’s expiration date—which is also included on the Emirates ID—and the labour card for domestic helpers may not always coincide. Due to this, the card will incur late renewal fees.
Why is there a work permit or labour card fine?
This year, Tadbeer centres have been replaced by domestic worker recruiting firms, therefore sponsors can now renew their domestic worker’s visa by going to an Amer centre in Dubai or a Tas’heel centre, which are both located throughout the UAE.
The employment contract and the domestic worker’s visa typically have the same length of validity—one or two years. It’s crucial to renew both your labour card and visa at the same time in order to avoid paying any penalties.
But why does the date differ between the labour card and the visa?
Sponsors may be subject to a fine since they must first apply for a labour card, also known as a work contract, with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization before they can submit an application for a worker’s visa (MOHRE).
In some cases, a sponsor may submit an application for a visa several weeks or even a month after the labour card was obtained. Since the job contract was issued later, the date on which the visa is stamped.
In such a case, you might only check the date on the Emirates ID, which denotes the visa’s expiration date, when you renew the visa the following year. The labour card, however, would have already expired sooner. You can then be required to pay MOHRE a fine.
What to do when it is time to renew the visa?
Visit a recognised typing centre in your area of employment or residence to confirm the legality of the work contract or labour card.
Typically, it is advised to go to a typing centre at least one month prior to the expiration date listed on the Emirates ID or visa page if you are sponsoring a domestic worker. You can get a clear notion of when to renew your visa and work permit by asking one of the agents at the typing centre to confirm the date for renewal listed on the MOHRE and Immigration systems.
Also Read: UAE law on domestic workers: Fines of up to Dh200,000 for recruiting domestic workers illegally