Job Discussion Forums

[stoth1972]

When I first moved to the UAE in 1998, there was talk of 'blacklisting'. Blacklisting would have been a banning of an individual from working in the UAE for...I don't know, an indefinite amount of time. It was this threat that hung over the head of any miserable teacher who was thinking about doing a runner. At that time, the story was that an insitution could only apply for x number of visas. In order to get a new visa for an employee, one would have to be cancelled. The idea being, if you left in the middle of your contract without properly cancelling your visa, then the company would be down one potential visa issuance until the original one ran out (three years later or until they filed the necessary paperwork to say that you had absconded). I don't think it's this way anymore, but I'm not sure.

I do know that the 'letter of no objection' policy forced people into getting permission from their previous employer before going to a new one, but what happens when someone up and leaves in the middle of the night? Can you be banned beyond the 6 months? For all those teachers out there who did a runner, can they find work in the UAE again? If there is a 'blacklist', is it enforced by the government or does the employer have the right to blacklist someone?

Your input is appreciated (and no, I did not pull a runner).

[veiledsentiments]

I know that there is an informal 'blacklist' and in the DC Embassies, the Gulf countries consult each other concerning people, but the question is how one gets on the list. I suspect that just doing a runner would only cause you a problem up to the time the UAE visa in your passport ran out. Or you could just get a new passport and thus have a new number - actually I would expect to do both of those.

VS

[stoth1972]

My husband left (not overnight, but on emergency leave) during his contract, and then contacted them to say that he would not return. I just want to know that we can return to the UAE at some point without hassle.

Who keeps the informal blacklist, or is that the list of names shared between Gulf country embassies in DC? Is that for the pathological runners, or those who have committed more serious crimes?

[veiledsentiments]

Who really knows how formal this list is... My guess is that it is mostly for people who were fired - or "not renewed" for serious issues - like alcoholism or worse. I think it is also an extension of the traditional wasta system.

As I said, if the old visa has expired, get a new passport and I doubt that anyone will be the wiser.

VS

[thrifty]

Alcoholism is serious?

Pretty standard for Gulf expats.

[veiledsentiments]

As long as one can dry out for class the next day, no problem. But, don't try coming to class drunk and/or not showing up for half of your morning classes. (or providing your students with booze)

Those are the fellows (and they do tend to usually be male) who end up out the door.

VS