Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Fake Emiratisation jobs: 565 companies get hefty fines

A total of 565 companies in the UAE have been fined up to Dh100,000 for orchestrating fake Emiratisation jobs, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). The private sector companies claimed that they hired a total of 824 Emiratis to comply with the mandatory Emiratisation at their firm, allowing the fake employees to take advantage of government benefits. The fake Emiratisation cases were discovered since June last year, and MOHRE said that it has launched “necessary legal and administrative action" against offenders. “Fake Emiratisation is a clear violation of Emiratisation-related decisions and the regulations of the NAFIS programme,” MOHRE said in a statement on Wednesday (August 30). “Legal and administrative procedures have been taken against violating establishments, including degrading their categorisation within MOHRE’s systems, imposing fines ranging from Dh20,000 to Dh100,000, and potential referral to the Public Prosecution, based on the level of the violation,” according to MOHRE. Under the UAE law, private sector companies with 50 or more employees are obligated to hire a minimum of 2 percent of Emiratis as part of their workforce per year. Violators face a fine of Dh42,000 for each Emirati not hired. Meanwhile, Emiratis who take up jobs in the private sector will be given financial benefits under the NAFIS programme. According to MOHRE, Emiratis proven to be involved in fake Emiratisation jobs will cease to receive financial assistance and will be asked to return the funding that they illegally received. ICA/Expat Media
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