Five new categories of internal work permits were introduced by Cabinet Resolution No. 25 of 2010, concerning work transfers, temporary work, part-time work, sponsored kinship work and juvenile persons work.

The Worker Transfer Permit applies to non-UAE nationals already working in UAE willing to transfer from one organization to another while both organizations are registered with the Ministry of Labour (MOL). This will effectively enable the MOL to issue a permit for the employee allowing him to move to the new employer without the application of the six month ban. The immediate transfer of sponsorship within this category is only possible if the termination was consensual and the employee had served a minimum of two years of service with the first employer. However, the requirement of termination being consensual can be exempted upon the occurrence of a number of circumstances, such as finding the employer in breach of its legal or contractual obligations, or a complaint being filed with MOL by the employee due to the establishment’s closure or the employer’s failure to renew the employment. There are also a number of exemptions applicable on the requirements of the minimum two years of service with first employer, such as the employer being in violation of its legal obligations towards the employee or the employee moving to an establishment which is also owned by the first employer.   

The second category, namely Temporary Work Permit is intended for those willing to be employed on project basis. The same will be available for a role or involvement in a project which lasts for not longer than 6 months. 

There is now also a Part-Time Work Permit available which is introduced for those engaged in an employment with less working hours than the normal hours served by other employees in the same position. According to MOL, this new permit will allow people already in one full-time employment to take a second part time job. The Resolution itself does not expressly make this point, however, it is at MOL’s discretion to issue a Part-Time work permit to be used as such.

Work Permit for Personnel Sponsored by their Kinship will be issued for those currently dependent and are taking an employment with a MOL registered organization. It is however important to note that this permit does not necessarily enable a dependent to work from home on their own account in the absence of the necessary approvals and trade license.

Juvenile Persons Work Permit is intended for the age group between 15-18 years old willing to take up an employment.
The procedures related to obtaining these permits have not yet been published by the MOL, however, we have been informed that neither of these permits are renewable. Hence at the time of expiry of these permits a new application must be submitted to MOL for assessment.

Bahareh Alizadeh