Dear Sir,

We are all waiting with great expectation on the enforcement of new regulations governing the entry, exit and residency of expatriate workers (“New residency law to take effect in October”, Gulf Times, April 21). I hope that the new rules, taking effect from October, will improve the situation for better, both for the employees and employers who follow rules laid out by the government.  
The new regulations, according to reports, enable expatriate workers to apply for exit permits themselves through the approved channels of the Ministry of Interior, without having to seek their employers’ permission. The application, it is understood, will be granted within three working days in normal circumstances.
The employer will be notified if he has any objection.  In case of disputes with the employer, a grievance committee will resolve the issue within three working days. If still not resolved, the issue will be referred to the court.
I hope companies will not misuse their power to raise objections to the grant of exit visas for their workers seeking salary dues.
In this context, I would like to point to the case of the company I work with. Five of my colleagues have been waiting for more than a month for their exit permits to go on leave to their home country. They are still to get their salaries of three months and they are waiting for their payment before going on leave. But the company continues to delay paying the salary dues. When the workers approach the management for their exit papers and unpaid salaries, the response they get is not at all encouraging. The management also threatens to terminate the staff members if they continue to press their demands.
What options are available to us, we have no idea at all.

RS, (Full name and e-mail address supplied)

Stop firms from violating govt rules

Dear Sir,

Further to the letter “Some firms flouting WPS, transport rules” (Gulf Times, April 25), the denial of overtime payment seems to be a common practice.  Some companies make the staff work during official holidays and neither pay them overtime allowance nor give them compensatory days off.
In a company I know, the management has imposed a time limit for taking compensatory days.
It would be great if government’s labour inspectors pay surprise visits to companies and interview the staff confidentially to know about the illegal practices followed by some managers who violate government rules for their personal gains.  Managements responsible for formulating rules which go against government measures should be firmly dealt with.

Raj, (Full name and address supplied)


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