Saturday: 24 April 2010:
Ministry of Interior arrests 1094 absconding maids in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah
Major General Al Minhali: We will continue chasing law violators
Colonel Al Rashdi: "Middlemen" are behind the absconding of some maids
Colonel Al Rashdi: Greed is one of absconding reasons
Following successive inspection campaigns Ministry of Interior Inspection Teams of the Directorate of Violators and Foreigners Follow up arrested 1,094 absconding housemaids in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah during the first quarter of this year.
Major General Nasser Al Awadhi Al Minhali, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Naturalization, Residency and Ports Affairs at the Ministry of Interior. He has affirmed in a statement, "That the campaigns would continue to nab absconding housemaids, violators and infiltrators, and those who harbor them to bring them to book".
"MoI currently coordinates with embassies and consulates to facilitate the deportation procedures of the housemaids, they are all Asians. These embassies and consulates cooperate well with MoI for speeding up these formalities', added Al Minhali.
Colonel Saeed bin Rakan Al Rashdi, Director of Violators and Foreigners Follow up Section at MoI Directorate general of Naturalization, Residency and Ports Affairs, said that during the first four months of this year, the Inspection Teams arrested 582 absconding housemaids in Abu Dhabi, 242 in Al Ain and 207 in Sharjah, bringing the total number to 1,094.
Colonel Al Rashdi urged the citizens and residents to report infiltrators and violators through the toll free number (80080), which is open for 24 hours, until this phenomenon disappears or becomes less.
Some middlemen forget the country security for their personal interests for just a few crumbs of money. Thus the authorities have to raise the fine for sheltering and employing a violator to Dh 50 thousand and employment of an infiltrator to Dh 100 thousand, imprisonment and deportation.
Investigations revealed that most of the runaway housemaids fled to get additional work illegally. This is detrimental because they become vulnerable to exploitation. He urged employers not to leave precious jewelry in front of housemaids' eyes, which could lure them to steal and escape.
Major General Al Minhali lauded the achievements of Violators and Foreigners Follow up Department employees. He appreciated their efforts in chasing and hunting infiltrators and violators. He affirmed the Department keenness to develop its inspection methods and mechanisms.
The Law of Foreigners Entry and Residency stipulates that anyone who employ or shelter an infiltrator will be awarded a jail sentence of not less than two months, plus a fine of not less than Dh100,000. Any business owner who employs a foreigner not under his sponsorship or leaves him work for others without complying with prescribed conditions and regulations for transfer of sponsorship or without getting appropriate permit he will pay a fine of Dh50,000.
