UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: AN ESTIMATED 200,000 ILLEGAL WORKERS SCRAMBLE TO LEAVE THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO AVOID A GOVERNMENT CRACK-DOWN

Record ID: 337665

  • Title: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: AN ESTIMATED 200,000 ILLEGAL WORKERS SCRAMBLE TO LEAVE THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO AVOID A GOVERNMENT CRACK-DOWN
  • Date: 28th September 1996
  • Summary: ABU DHABI AND DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (SEPTEMBER 28, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) ABU DHABI (MUTE) 1. TV WIDE OF PEOPLE AT AIRPORT CHECK-IN DESKS 0.10 2. MV PEOPLE QUEUEING WITH LUGGAGE 0.15 3. CU AIR INDIA SIGN 0.21 4. CU EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE 0.31 5. SCU CHECK-IN DESK OFFICER 0.38 6. MV PEOPLE CHECKING IN 0.43 7. SLV WIDE OF SECURITY CHECKS 0.55 8. MV MEN IN QUEUE 1.04 9. SCU DEPARTURE BOARDS 1.15 ABU DHABI 10. CU DR JAMAL AL SUWAIDI, DIRECTOR OF THE EMIRATES CENTRE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES, SAYING, "THE LABOUR MARKET IN UAE REQUIRES A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES. WITH THIS HUGE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL WORKERS IN FACT WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS CREATING AN ILLEGAL LABOUR MARKET AND CREATING ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHER WORKERS IN THE COUNTRY. I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION AND I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME THE DECISION WAS EXECUTED AND IT IS A NORMAL TREND ALL OVER THE WORLD." (ENGLISH) 1.49 DUBAI (MUTE) 11. SLV VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE THE INDIAN CONSULATE 1.58 12. SCU FLAG FLYING IN THE AIR 2.05 13. MV PEOPLE LOOKING AT LISTS OF ISSUED PASSPORTS 2.19 14. MV EXTERIOR OF INDIAN CONSULATE 2.24 15. MV GROUPS OF PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE CONSULATE 2.30 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 13th October 1996 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ABU DHABI AND DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
  • City:
  • Country: United Arab Emirates
  • Reuters ID: LVA5MF8W29N7SJG4JKPN5UTLRKR1
  • Story Text: - INTRO: An estimated 200,000 illegal workers have been scrambling to leave the United Arab Emirates to avoid a government crack-down on illagal workers.

    Airports and ports are crowded with people taking advantage of a government amnesty that gives them until October 31 to get their papers in order or get out.

    Air India officials said the airline had carried almost 19,000 Indian amnesty-seekers back home over the past week. The Dubai airport authority said an average of 5,000 amnesty-seekers were departing through the airport every day.

    Thousands of foreign workers, primarily from the Indian subcontinent but also from southeast Asia, have been rushing to leave the UAE by plane and small launches to avoid tough penalties when the new law takes effect on November 1.

    More than 1,000 illegal aliens prepared to board a cargo ship on Monday (September 30) for a five-day voyage to India.

    The passengers - all men - will sleep on two levels of wooden planks in the dank, windowless hull of the 3,500-tonnes Seawolf 103, which usually carries such cargoes as sugar and rice.

    No women were allowed on board because of what the shipping agents called "hardship conditions".

    Foreigners make up about 75 percent of the 2.4 million population in the small Gulf state. Many came to the Gulf legally, but broke the law by failing to leave when their visas expired or working for employers other than their sponsor. The government says they are a threat to the UAE's security.

    Dr Jamal Al Suwaidi, Director of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies said the illegal immigrants were creating hardships for themselves and other legal workers who were being deprived of work.

    He said the legislation was a common practise throughout the rest of the world.

    If the illegal workers are caught after the deadline, they face punishments including fines, prison terms and deportation.

    The UAE estimates some 140,000 illegal aliens will depart during the three-month amnesty. Diplomats say as many as 200,000 could leave. But embassies said they had issued about 100,000 exit permits and the number of applicants was dwindling.


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