NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE Media
India enforces bank guarantee
UAE - FEB. 18: INDIVIDUALS in Gulf countries recruiting housemaids from India would soon have to furnish a bank guarantee of $2,500 (Dhs9,125) for the mandatory clearances from Indian missions.
However the new norm will not apply to housemaids recruited by agencies registered with the Government of India, informed sources told The Gulf Today.
The Indian missions are also contemplating an increase in the minimum advisory wages from the current Dhs600-650 for housemaids. To be finalised soon, the revised amount will take into account the rising cost of living and inflation in Gulf countries.
Currently working on the directives issued by the Government of India, the Indian missions in the region would soon decide on how and when to implement them, the sources said.
The missions will also stick to earlier stipulations that all housemaids recruited to the region be provided with an activated mobile phone as a line of contact to check their welfare. To prevent exploitation of women workers, India had in September 2007 stopped all recruitment of Indian women for overseas jobs if they are below 30 years of age and does not possess a minimum educational qualification of secondary school.
This condition would also continue to be strictly implemented under the set of revised norms to come into force soon.
In the pipeline for quite some time now, the bank guarantee is seen as a mechanism to ensure the recruits' welfare since there has been several cases of rights abuses. "The bank guarantee is a surety to ensure the welfare of those recruited by individuals. While the agents can be held responsible for their recruits, the new mechanism will help in fixing accountability on the individual employers," one of the sources said.
The new rule will require individual employers of whatever nationality to furnish the bank guarantee, besides meeting all other requirements, with the Indian mission concerned. Without the mission's clearance, the Protectorate of Emigrants at Indian gateways will not allow the housemaids to exit the country.
India was one of the first labour-origin countries to tighten the recruitment of women workers after several cases of physical and sexual abuses were reported from the Middle East and Gulf region. While Pakistan and Bangladesh do not allow recruitment of women for Gulf countries, Sri Lanka and Philippines have of late tightened regulations to ensure the welfare of their nationals working as domestic helps.
Many of the women have been alleging non-payment of wages and inhuman treatment at the hands of their employers forcing labour-origin countries like India to enforce stricter conditions for their recruitment.
GULF TODAY
Motorists urged to take caution while driving through foggy weather
Abu Dhabi - Feb, 18: The National Center of Meteorology and Seismology urged motorists to take precaution while driving their cars during the poor visibility due to the expected fog formation during the late night and morning of Monday.
''Motorists driving along the coastal belt and the interior parts of the country, specifically the western region, should be very careful due to poor visbility,''the Center said in a press release on Sunday.
WAM/TF
UAE vows stern action against infiltrators; 1,400 held in January
UAE - FEB. 18: AUTHORITIES in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have vowed to arrest and deport what they termed as "the threatening number of infiltrators entering the country through land and sea in search of greener pastures."
In a press conference held at Dubai police presided over by the force's Commander in Chief, Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, and flanked by his Criminal Investigation Department official, Brigadier Khamis Matter, Al Mazina have vowed to take stringent actions to ensure that both the infiltrators and their associates are prosecuted in addition to strict monitoring of the UAE borders.
Dhahi said :"The residency law violators who were arrested in Dubai during 2007 reached 8,207 which represent only 1/10 of the total number of the arrested violators; while the 9/10 of the arrested are infiltrators." He said the cases of those who run away from their sponsors are on increase as well. "We have also managed to arrest 39 wanted persons."
He said that in January 2008 around 1,419 infiltrators were arrested; around 34 of them had escaped from their sponsors. "Most of the arrested are Asian males who targeted the UAE which is witnessing economic boom and they're looking for jobs in an illegal way."
"If there are no strict measures taken to check this phenomenon, it would have serious impact on the country's security and be a burden on economy," said the police official in the presence of Undersecretary of UAE Ministry of Interior, Said Alshafaar in the premises of Dubai police general headquarters on Sunday.
The CID boss said: "In the year 2005, the number of infiltrators detained by Dubai Police reached 38, 062 and a large number of infiltrators bore a social and security burden on the country.
This prompted Tamim to wonder : "We have to raise important question on how all this large number of infiltrators has entered," suggesting in the same breath that UAE coast guards should take important role in arresting the infiltrators who try to enter the country from Asian and some neighboring countries through land or sea .He said that it is clear that there is lack of control on UAE borders and inspection procedures
GULF TODAY
EP begins disbursing workers' salaries
DUBAI - FEB. 18:: Emirates Post outlets have started disbursing private company workers' salaries on designated days, as stipulated in separate agreements with the participating companies.
The workers of Bently Security and Safety Consultancy became the first group of employees to receive their salaries at Emirates Post counters. They collected their salary from the Ajman Central Post Office, as per the agreement signed between Emirates Post and Bently Security.
"Over 100 employees collected their salaries from the Ajman Post Office this week, and another 100 will be registered this month," said Arif Al Rahma, General Manager of Bently Security. "We are pleased that the procedure was smooth and our workers are very happy with the arrangements at the post office counters."
More than 60 small and medium-size companies, having employees ranging from 3 to 6,500, have already signed up with Emirates Post. The companies are from different fields, including engineering, contracting, construction, trading, restaurants, electronics, security and building maintenance, according to a press release.
"Emirates Post and Wall Street Exchange have put together the most efficient and value-packed package to enable companies to pay their workers' salaries from an approved agent," said Ibrahim Bin Karam, CEO, Emirates Post.
WAM
Human rights training kicks off in Dubai
Dubai - Feb. 18: LAW enforcers in the country have been urged to put into consideration all elements of human rights in the execution of their duties.
The call was made by the Executive Director of Geneva Institute for Human Rights (GIHR), Prof. Nazar A. Gadir. He was addressing over a dozen law enforcers from all over the country and beyond who are undergoing a four-day training course under the title: "Working Mechanisms of UN Committees for Human Rights" at the Dubai Police Officers' Club in Garhoud.
"This training is intended to stimulate your brain into considering human rights as you go about your daily activities," he said. "This is what the Geneva institute stands for and it is what links us with Dubai Police because both institutions stand for defending the interests of human rights."
The training is largely intended to improve the knowledge and experience of the participants on the national, regional and international systems of human rights focusing on the template of the UN system. The participants were mainly drawn from the Ministry of Interior; General Prosecution in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; Dubai Police; legal consultants among others.
The Commander in Chief of Dubai Police, Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim opened the training organised by the Dubai Police in conjunction with GIHR.
Tamim said that the virtues of "respect to human rights as well as transparency are embeded in the vision of Vice-President, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
He pledged to spread of awareness of human rights to the people of the UAE. "We shall do this in conjunction with GIHR through such fora." The course is part of the General Department of Human Rights Care of Dubai police's ongoing internal training programme for the year 2008.
This training is in response to the continued respect Dubai police as an institution attaches to human rights conventions.
On Dec.17, 1979, the UN General Assembly adopted a Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials stipulating, inter alia, law enforcement officials shall respect and protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons.
The provisions of this Code contain a series of norms and principles that, as the Geneva based human rights scholar, Prof. Dr. Bertrand G. Ramcharan told a gathering in the same place on Dec.10,2007 (World Human Rights Day), "all police academies and all police officials would undoubtedly wish to abide by."
Trainers were drawn from Geneva as well as from the National Centre for Human Rights in the country and the private legal and human rights experts.
Flashing signboards get motorists going
Dubai - Feb. 18:A SCORE of motorists have hailed the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) display of electronic information cautioning them of the traffic situation ahead saying the system is saving them a great deal in dodging possible traffic jam.
The transport body has over 253 digital sign boards installed to provide cautionary information, speed guides and lane condition, which is called: Variable Messages Signs (VMS) of Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS).
These messages are illustrated in text and graphic formats. They provide drivers and road users with important information as they describe the condition of traffic on key roads, bridges, tunnels and crossings in the emirate of Dubai.
They help warn about trip duration, expected delay time, end of maximum speed limit, slippery conditions, congested roads, accidents, blocked roads and other guidance necessary for alerting and guiding drivers.
"I can take another route to reach my destination after being warned of the jam or any dangers ahead of the road," said a motorist, Jamil Huq. He added that such messages have been in place in so many Western countries and have been very useful. "Iam happy we have also taken that trend."
Ali Muhsin, another motorist, was of the similar view. "The warnings help us to reduce any possible traffic jams."
However, Abdallah Mukungu said that much as they're helpful, there is a time when the driver has no any other alternative route but to face the 'danger' head on. "The alternative route may be too windy and may be with numerous constructions there, but still, the cautious messages do help."
Whatever the differing opinions, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Traffic and Roads Agency at the RTA, Engineer Maitha Bin Adai has called upon motorists and road users to pay attention to the information displayed at the VMS of the ITS.
She said that of 253 signs, 73 are cautionary displaying permissible speed limits, and 162 signs provide information about the condition of lanes.
"RTA is considering to expand the ITS to cover all roads in the emirate of Dubai in the next five years.
A full assessment of signs is currently underway to upgrade performance and bring it in line with the highest technical standards. RTA will reserve no effort to introduce highly sophisticated traffic systems to uplift the standard and efficiency of traffic in Dubai to match the vision of the RTA to provide 'safe and smooth transport for all'," said Maitha.
She said that the aim of the project is to direct drivers to choose the least congested routes and direct them in case of traffic accidents or faulty vehicles before arriving to the spot of the incident.
The Director of Intelligent Traffic Systems Department at Traffic and Roads Agency, Engineer Salah Al Marzooki said that VMS covers Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khaleej Road, Emirates Road, Sheikh Rashid Road, Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, Al Ittihad Road, Al Mina Road, Bani Yas Road, Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge, Air Port Tunnel, Al Shindaga Tunnel, and the Floating Bridge."
GULF TODAY
Over 83,000 residency violators last year in Dubai
Dubai - Feb. 18: Dubai police announced that the number of residency violators and infiltrators topped 83,000 in 2007, according to police figures.
''Of this number, 51,277 presented themselves before the relative authorities during the three-month amnesty period offered to them last year,''Lt.
General Dhabi Khalfan, chief of Dubai police.
''The number of infiltrators who sneaked into the country illegally and seized by the police stood at 20, 633 and 8,206 people entered the country and stayed there on illegal basis,'' he told reporters.
The number of those who left their sponsors was 2,0 30, whereas absconders seized were 870 people. Police registers also showed that there were 39 people wanted by the police during the last year.
He disclosed that the 20, 366 of the total number of the violators were seized by the police in the period from January to the end of May; before the end of the amnesty period, and from November to the end of December; after the amnesty period.
He added that the number of violators seized by the police in January this year was 2,306 violators.
WAM/MUS/TF