THE NATIONAL - 01/01/2009 Expats in 57 occupations banned from bringing families with them Haneen Dajani anc! Zahraa Al Khalisi ABU DHABI // Expatriates work- ing in $7 occupations have been banned from bringing their fami- lies to live with them as part of Government moves to reduce the number of people breakin; visa laws. Among those who will be uaable to bring family include: make-up artists, cooks, bakers, car wash- ers, grave diggers, tailors, waiters and falcon trainers. The new regu- lation was announced yesterday. ‘A total of 25,313 visa violators and infiltrators have been caught, since an amnesty period ended in Nov 2007, according to figures, released by Brig Gen Nasser al Minhali, the acting director ofthe Naturalisation and Residency De- partment. “Our main concern is violators. Ninety per cent ofthe banned pro fessions do not fit the naturalisa- tion and residency laws anyway. 1 understand that everyone wants their family to be close to them but I have a responsibility to fight violators,” Gen al Minhali said. Low-income employees were often not able to pay visa fees for their families, which turned them intoillegal immigrants, he said. “When we identified the 57 occu- pations, we found a big accumu- lation of violators between them. For example, there was a person who hired a driver, and then used the driver's family members [as staff], and this driver's salary is 3000 [US$270]. His salary is not enough to find ahome. “Would you accept to accommo- date his family members withyou inyour house?” Ahmad Ali, 34, an Indian waiter, said he believed the law was un" fair. “Iwould like to bring my fam- ily,” he said, though living condi- tions were too expensive for him. Families, continued on 29 Expats ir: 57 occupations banned from bringing families withthem | > Families, continued from 1 “They are discriminating against people. It’s not fair,” said Mihai Andrei, 36, an engineer from Ro- mania, “People should be able to come here and try for themselves.” On the other hand, Souman Sarkar, 43, an engineer from India, said he was happy with the new Jaw, as people might end up engag- ing in criminal activity if they could notafford the steep cost oflivingin the country. “Theywill sufferif they come here, they cannot afford it.” For those already in the country, however, Gen al Minhali said, resi- dencylaws have been revised to en- sure they could afford the fees and stay within the law. Under the new law, residents will paya residency visa fee only once, a8 opposed to the current system where they pay fee each time their visais renewed. The fee will be less than the current one, which varies depending on nationality. ‘The authorities have also stepped up policing with a24-hour, toll-free tip line toreport absconders and i- legal immigrants. Gen Minhali said a new house- maids lawwould alsobe announced intwo months which would include a reduction in fees for getting a maid’s visa and the launch ofa new agency under the Ministry of Inte- rior that will operate all housemaid recruitmentservices. Of 25,313 cases of visa fraud un- \ covered since the last amnesty 2,967 were infiltrators. Of these 128 were repeatoffendersandwen prosecuted. Residents who overstay their resi dency visas are fined Dh25 for eact day, while people who overstay oth ertypes of visas are fined Dh100 fo each day. ‘Those caught by authorities with outavalid visa are deported imme diately. A.Dh50,000 fine is imposed or employers who recruit foreigner. without gaining work permits. A full list of occupations affectec can be found at www.thenational ae/occupations § hdajani@thenational.ae9250556 Light vehicle driver 815122 Super car tinsmith 8411102 Mason 8480288 Welder T7788 Labourer @ = assistant 1521010 Planner 6122001 Birds farmer 8480403 Painter 8134067 Upholsterer 6122002 Falcon care taker 7331046 Butcher Occupations + Last Updated: January 01. 2009 9:30AM UAE / January 1. 2009 5:30AM GMT ‘Occupation code Occupation 5122034 Arabic food cook 51220055 Grilled meat maker 5122105 Falafel maker 5122115 Confectioner 5122125 Pastries maker 5124035 Juice maker 5124055 Coffee cook 5131014 Presser General 5132115 Car washer 5212025 Grave digger 4211035 Grocer 4211055 Butcher 8112054 Moulding maker 8114115 Tinsmith 5112024 Maker up (make up artist) 5121915 Dough kneader 8141055 Private driver 8412044 Tile layer 8412024 _ = painter 8412035 White wash painter assistant 5122044 Foreign food cook 5122085 Chawarma maker 5123025 Waiter 8119024 Goldsmith 8114096 Ironsmith 8311001 Carpenter 7135224 Tailor 7332036 Cook 5111012 Hairdresser 2215061 Welder 5123000 Waiters food 5222015 Guard 5223025 Office boy 8611035 Labourer 8143136 Dumber driver 8421038 Shift operator 142 Decoration technician 36 Assistant cook 7131313 Painter 8311087 First turner 1521062 Graphic