The United Arab Emirates will reduce the length of work visas it issues to private sector foreign workers to two years from three years, local daily Gulf News reported on Wednesday.
The new rule becomes effective from Jan. 11 and will affect millions of expatriates employed by private businesses in the country, the newspaper reported, citing Humaid bin Deemas, acting director-general of the Ministry of Labour.
The change also affects residency visas, which are linked to work visas, the newspaper said.
The UAE and other Gulf states operate a sponsorship system where employees' work visas are issued through their employer or ‘sponsor’.
“As the labour card will be for only two years, naturally the residency visa will also be for two years," bin Deemas was quoted as saying.
The UAE relies heavily on foreign workers, especially in the private sector. Expatriates make up about 80% of the country’s estimated population of around six million.
Cutting the length of work visas would “achieve certain flexibility in the relationship between employers and employee”, bin Deemas said in the report.
Quoting Labour Ministry statistics, Gulf News said 70% of labour cards were cancelled within two years.
The sponsorship system has come under sharp criticism from human rights activists for making it difficult for foreign workers to switch jobs or leave their employers when facing abuse.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries employ about 15 million migrant workers, representing some 40 percent of the total population.
The ILO on Sunday called on Gulf countries to reform the sponsor system, introduce a minimum wage and allow foreign workers to form associations.
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