Labor card which is also known as a work permit is the identity proof of the workers in the UAE. Employees must carry their labor card while moving in the country. It has details like the employee’ name and his profession, employer name, nationality, expiry date, personal number, work permit number, and labor card number.
Conditions for Employees:
- The employee should not be less than 18 years of age and more than 60 years of age.
- The employee should possess an academic qualification necessary for the country
- The employee should be fit and should not hold any communicable diseases. He/She has to obtain a medical certificate from their country
Conditions for Employers:
- The employer must not keep the expired labor cards and ensure that all his companies have a breach free record.
- The employee’s salary at work should be relative to her/his profession in that company.
- All employers should unify all their companies under the ministry’s procedures.
Application of a New Labor Card
- The labor sector department generally deals with this process.
- The ministry provides service to modify/renew work permit for the company. It provides a new electronic work permit and contract that is valid for 2 years.
Service Procedures:
- The required documents will be scanned and the applications will be printed at a service center(TASHEEL) or through the company that is involving with the ministry’s e-forms program.
- Upon the fulfillment of the aforementioned conditions. They will be checked and verified.
- Inquiry services can be used to follow up application status or printing the electronic employment contract and permit approval.
- The applicant can use inquiry services by visiting the ministry’s portal www.mohre.gov.ae
- The electronic employment permit and contract can be printed by registering through e-services (eNetwasal services )or through service centers(TASHEEL services).
Documents Required:
- An employee’s photo
- The company’s valid license copy
- A copy of entry visa
- The employee’s valid health certificate.
- A copy of the signature card.
- 3 copies of the employment contract, on the condition that they should bear the signatures of the employer and employee with a company’s seal.
Fines:
- The fine involved upon delaying the submission of new labor card within 60 days from the Entry date is Dh 500
Check: Know about Labor Contract in UAE
Modification and Renewal of existing Labor card
- The labor sector department generally deals with this process.
- The ministry provides service to modify/renew work permit for the company. If an employer wants to modify the contract and the salary in addition to work permit renewal he can reach ministry of labor.
Service Procedure:
- The required documents will be scanned and the applications will be printed at a service center(TAS’HEEL) or through the company that is involving with the ministry’s e-forms program.
- The applications will be transferred to the ministry’s database for verification. It will make sure whether all the required documents and conditions are fulfilled.
- Inquiry services can be used to follow up application status or printing the electronic employment contract and permit approval.
- The applicant can use inquiry services by visiting the ministry’s portal www.mohre.gov.ae
- If the documents are missed the applicant is allowed to visit the service center(TASHEEL) to fulfill the requirements.
- Applications will be printed and submitted at “TASHEEL” (service center) or through the companies that are participating in the ministry’s e-forms program.
- Tasheel operates from Saturday to Thursday from 8 am to 8 pm.
- The company should have an electronic signature card and a valid license.
Documents Required:
- A color photo
- A valid copy of the trade license
- A copy of the new and old contract
- The academic certificate (If you have to modify profession)
- Approval letter from accomplished authorities (If you have to modify profession)
Fee:
- Payment depends on the category type and it generally ranges from AED 300 to AED 5000.
- The labor card is renewed only till the age of 65. If the Labor card is renewed for a person who is beyond 65, then a special fee of Dh5000 has to be paid at the time of renewal.
Lost/Damaged Labor Card
Service Procedure:
- The companies who participate in the Ministry’s e-Forms programme or the Tasheel service centers will print the applications.
- The necessary documents will be scanned at Tasheel service centers and they are electronically moved to the ministry database for verifying and making sure that the necessary documents and conditions are satisfied.
- If the priorities are met then the application would be processed, and the labor card is sent through P.O.Box.
- If any of the documents are missing then that will be notified through mail.
- All the necessary services are provided by Tasheel service centers.
Documents Required:
- A single copy of passport
- Single colored photograph
- Damaged original labor card (in case if the labor card is damaged)
- The police certificate that is certified by the labor inspection department at MOL(in case if the labor card is lost)
Fee:
The fee required will be AED 200
Canceling the Labor Card
There are 6 types of labor card cancellations. They are normal cancellation, used work permit cancellation, unused work permit cancellation, sick cancellation, outside country cancellation, and death cancellation. You will have to submit the necessary documents in order to cancel the labor card.
- Labour card can be issued or canceled at (MOL) Ministry of Labour
- The employer generally cancels the labor card.
Check: What do you need to know about UAE Labor Laws?
Cancellation Procedure:
- Employer approaches the Ministry of Human Resource and Emiratisation with an application to cancel the labor card along with the employee’s signature
- Then the employer must apply to General Directorate of Residence and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) for canceling employee’s visa.
- The company must also cancel the work permit/labor card simultaneously which requires a signed letter stating that the that the employee has already received the wages
An employer can also cancel the labour card using e-Services by visiting MoHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation) website. An employer will have to click on Tasheel services, transactions, miscellaneous and cancel labour card in the respective order to cancel the labour card.
Points to be noted about Labor Card
- The labor card fee shall be included in the fee that has already been paid for receiving a work permit.
- An expat employee should be sponsored by the licensed company which is registered with the MOL(Ministry of labor). Ministry of Labor (MOL) is now the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE)
- The recruited employee should receive a labor card within 60 days of his arrival in the country by the employer. If there is no labor contract issued, the employer will be accountable and the employee can notify to the labor department in such cases so that the necessary measures will be taken by the employer. In this case, it’s the employer who pays fine for the delay.
- The labor card is issued for 2 years. And for government employees, it is issued for 3 years. It is renewable for the same period only with the consent of employee and employer. The labor card should be renewed within a period of 50 days from the date of expiry.
- If the labor card is not renewed within the given time period, then the employee has to pay the fee related to the labor card and employment contract.
- Along with the labor card, the Emirates ID, the residence visa will also be canceled and seized. After the entire process, the cancellation status of the labor card would be approved. After that, the employee will be given a grace period of 30 days to vacate the country.
One has to submit appropriate documents required to get a new/renew/modify the labor card. It serves as an identity proof for the workers and benefits them in multiple ways especially at the time of crisis.
About the author
Anala is a young and spunky guru on financial matters, who tells you like it is; everything from managing debt to managing savings accounts. While books and movies keep her brain ticking, Anala pursues swimming and dancing to keep fit. A lifelong explorer and learner, Anala believes in giving back, and volunteers with the Bright Spark Education program at the NGO Youngistaan Foundation, where she opens up children's minds to the innumerable possibilities of a happy and successful life!
