The UAE in an apparent threat has asked all countries to take back their citizens wishing to return following the coronavirus situation.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said they are considering ‘options’ after many countries refused to receive their citizens wishing to return “either because they (citizens) are taking early leave or because their services have been terminated in light of the current circumstances.”
It said they are considering several options to restructure its cooperation and labour relations with countries refusing to receive their nationals back.
The UAE embassy in Dhaka in a statement on Tuesday said the options include imposing strict future restrictions on the recruitment of workers from these countries and activating the ‘quota’ system in recruitment operations.
The options also include suspending memoranda of understanding (MoU) signed between the ministry and concerned authorities in these countries.
A diplomatic source told Bangladesh Post that Bangladesh also falls into this category. Over 7lakh Bangladeshis are working in the UAE. Many of them became jobless following the coronavirus situation. There was no official reaction from the government on this issue.
The UAE said: “Ministry made it clear that all countries of foreign workers in the UAE should be responsible for their nationals wishing to return to their countries as part of the humanitarian initiative launched recently by the Ministry in cooperation and coordination with the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Civil Aviation Authority and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA).”
Mohamed Thani Murshid Al-Rumaithi, President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the UAE, has stressed that the Federation of Chambers will reconsider its relations with countries those refuse to receive their nationals working in the private sector in the UAE, who have taken leaves and want to return to their countries.
“Stressing the importance of these countries will be more flexible in dealing with its nationals. In addition to preserving the advantages and gains, it has achieved for its relations with the UAE private sector, and to continue this cooperation in the interest of all parties in the future.”
Al-Rumaithi has stressed that the Federation of Chambers in the country stands alongside the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation in the options it studies, which include restoring the form of cooperation and relationship in working with countries sending to workers those refuse to receive their nationals working in the private sector in the UAE.
