Expat should earn Dh6,000 to sponsor a housemaid
A reader in Dubai (name withheld on request) asks: I want to bring a housemaid from India for my infant daughter, since my wife is working. My annual salary is Dh5,000, including accommodation. Am I eligible to bring a maid and are there any age restriction for the maid? What shall be the validity of housemaid's visa?
Hiring a housemaid by expatriates is permitted by law for those whose salary is not less than Dh6,000, including the accommodation. The applicant/sponsor has to deposit a sum of Dh5,000 as a guarantee and is allowed to get a housemaid of Indian nationality who should not be older than 30 years. The visa for the housemaid is usually issued for one year and can be renewed. However, the sponsor must deposit every year in the state treasury a sum equal to the maid's annual salary, provided that the salary of the maid shall not be less than Dh400.
Limited contract conditions
A reader in Dubai (name withheld on request) asks: I am a specialist doctor (orthopaedics) working in a private hospital in Dubai. I have a limited contract with a hospital for three years. I have completed two years with them. Now I have got a job offer from a government hospital in Abu Dhabi (Al Mafraq). I applied for release, but the administration is threatening to put a one-year ban on me. Can the current employer put a ban like this and if they put a ban can I overcome that and resume my job in the government hospital. Please advise.
As for limited employment contracts, the employee shall not terminate the contract before its expiry term on his own will, otherwise this will be a breach of the law and contract, and a one-year ban will be applied here. Regarding joining the government job, this shall be done only after submitting a visa transfer application, obtaining the previous sponsor's approval and obtaining the Naturalisation and Residency Department's approval as well.
Bringing husband on a visit visa
A reader in Abu Dhabi (name withheld on request) asks: I am a woman residing in Abu Dhabi. I have a UAE resident visa, and my salary is Dh2,000. I want to sponsor my husband for a visit visa. Is it legally possible with my salary? My husband is a Cameroonian. Is there any fee for Africans when they enter UAE?
The wife may sponsor her husband for a visit visa if her salary is not less than Dh3,000, and there might be some exceptions as per the consent of the head of the Naturalisation and Residency Department.
Mission entry visas
Shinu in Dubai asks: I heard the news that the new visit visa period is extended to six months from three months in Dubai. Is it true? And when does it come into effect?
According to an Interior Ministry decision, expatriate doctors, engineers, lawyers and technicians are entitled to obtain mission entry visa. These visas will be issued to those who come for temporary jobs with the permission of the Labour Ministry. It is issued for three months and can be renewed for another three-month period. The grace period for renewal or departure of visitors on a three-month visa will be seven days.
Rent increases
A reader in Abu Dhabi (name withheld on request) asks: I would like to know if there is an office where I could complain about rent hikes. I live in Abu Dhabi and the landlord increased my rent by more than 50 per cent. Is it legal for someone to increase the rent like this? What are my options?
Rent increases of apartments in Abu Dhabi are subjected to market forces. So, there is no ceiling set for the increase in rent in Abu Dhabi, and the reader is advised to approach the Compromise and Settlement Committee in order to review his claim there.
Unlawful
A reader in Dubai (name withheld on request) asks: My cousin is a housemaid and her sponsor has allowed her to work for others.
a) Is it lawful to work for others on my sponsor's verbal permission?
b) Will a sponsor's written permission to the person on his visa to work for others be allowed by the authority?
c) Can we advertise in a newspaper column seeking customers for housemaid's services?
Working for another sponsor - whether with the sponsor's approval or not; written or verbal consent - is violating the law and can be penalised with imprisonment and deportation. Thus, such service cannot be advertised for.
Questions answered by Advocate Mohammad Ebrahim Al Shaiba of Al Bahr Advocates and Legal Consultants.
