Employer wants to hold passport!

[wazza2222]

Righty Oh!
My wife has just got a job in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, the rules of which I am blissfully ignorant of
Her employment agreement states that the employer will hold her passport 'for security reasons' (temporary release may be granted)
I thought that this sort of shenanigans was against the law here in Dubai?

This appears to be 'one of those' employers that will try to claim visa costs back from staff who resign etc. etc.

Alarm bells ringing already?

Wazza

[Jumeirah Jim]

Yes warning bells should be ringing. That sounds extremely dodgy.

[Gavtek]

Under no circumstances allow them to keep her passport.

[wazza2222]

What do you reckon their angle is? why would they want to do that? Its an international (western) company so sex slavery isnt on the cards lol!

[Gavtek]

They just want to have control over their employees, dicate when she can/can't go on holiday, that sort of thing. Tell them to stick it.

[wandabug]

It's not legal but many companies do. Do what I did, give it them then tell them you need it for the bank/car lease company/liqour licence etc, then keep forgetting to give it back till they give up asking for it.

[Felixtoo2]

Under no circumstances let them have it.

[BedouGirl]

Will she be handling company money? That might be why. I think you also need to be concerned about the company wanting to recoup visa costs. It isn't legal either. This is probably why they are holding passports - basically, people wanting to leave have to pay, in effect, to get them back. Is she on your sponsorship? If so, they are not providing her with residency, just a labour card. That's another reason for them not to hold her passport. It's very easy to get caught in these situations. For most people, when they join a company, the last thing they are thinking of is leaving and they can never see themselves being in the situation where they may leave at a point where they would have to pay money back because they did not fulfil the terms of their contract. As everyone else has said, be wary....

[wazza2222]

No money handling although thats an interesting point!
I reckon the "oh I am going on holiday to Oman and need my passport this weekend" might be the go...
She's not on my sponsorship.

W

Originally Posted by BedouGirl

Will she be handling company money? That might be why. I think you also need to be concerned about the company wanting to recoup visa costs. It isn't legal either. This is probably why they are holding passports - basically, people wanting to leave have to pay, in effect, to get them back. Is she on your sponsorship? If so, they are not providing her with residency, just a labour card. That's another reason for them not to hold her passport. It's very easy to get caught in these situations. For most people, when they join a company, the last thing they are thinking of is leaving and they can never see themselves being in the situation where they may leave at a point where they would have to pay money back because they did not fulfil the terms of their contract. As everyone else has said, be wary....

[Tropicana]

Its illegal but quite common especially for lower end workers. In effect companies want to micromanage their staff, like dictate when they can take leave as one member said, etc.

In some neighboring countries its actually customary to ask staff for bribes to release their own passports!
And over here many companies make their staff write a letter requesting release of their passport specifying why they need it and promising to return it.

As long as companies think they own their staff and dont consider them as hired help, such things will continue