DUBAI, May 12: The United Arab Emirates has decided, in a far-reaching move, to allow all categories of expatriate workers to change their local sponsors, subject to certain conditions.

An order to this effect was issued yesterday by UAE Labour and Social Affairs Minister Mattar Humaid Al Tayer, local newspapers said today.

The decision will benefit thousands of foreign workers in the UAE, including Indians, who can now take up new jobs in this country after transfering their sponsorship. Such transfer was till now allowed for only certain categories of employees, including engineers, teachers, accountants, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, managers and technicians.

The facility was also available for drivers of buses and other heavy vehicles, people who leave private sector jobs for placement in public sector companies and those who joined the government.

Under the new rules, an employee can transfer his employment from one job to another, provided he has a valid residence visa in the UAE and has worked with the previous sponsor for at least one year. The transfer should also be approved by both the previous and the new sponsors. Further, the new job should match the employee's experience and qualification, the rules say. Mohammed Eisa Al Suweidi, under-secretary in the Labour Ministry, said all employees, including unskilled labourers, could now change their sponsors.He said the move was aimed at easing the rules regulating the work of UAE companies.

By permanently relaxing the sponsorship transfer rules, we enable employers to make use of the manpower already available in the local labour market.

Earlier, employees were required to go back to their countries after the completion of their contracts and companies had to recruit people afresh for new projects.In a separate decision, the Ministry also extended the validity of group visas for workers from two months to three months.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.