Official to discuss new labour system on radio

ABU DHABI // A top labour official will take to the airwaves tomorrow to explain new measures intended to make it easier for expatriates to switch jobs.

Humaid bin Deemas, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour, will take questions on Sharjah Radio at 1.30pm tomorrow to address major changes to the labour system.

New rules were announced last week that will allow expatriates to change their jobs without being barred for months from working in the country.

From the new year, skilled and professional workers will no longer be required to obtain a no-objection certificate from a former employer in order to take up a new position. Instead, they will need a visa stamp from the Ministry of Labour. Unskilled workers still need the certificates, but only for their first two years on the job. Previously, employers could refuse to issue the certificates, effectively barring former employees from taking up new jobs.

The radio programme, called "On Time", will be aired in Arabic.

The changes to the sponsorship system were announced after Saqr Ghobash, the Minister of Labour, pledged to reform it at a session in the Federal National Council.

kshaheen@thenational.ae