ABU DHABI // Anyone without UAE identity cards could be banned from working, studying or staying in the country after the FNC on Tuesday approved amendments to a draft law.
Council members were revising changes to a draft law pertaining to the Emirates Identity Authority’s Population Register and the identity card programme.
Changes were made in three areas in view of the obstacles that the authority faced in applying the rules and levying fines on people who breached them.
According to Article 10 of the draft law, it is not permissible to accept, recruit or retain anyone without an identity card.
The ban will take effect when the executive board has made its final decision.
The committee revising the draft law has passed amendments including an additional sentence to the Official Gazette, in which laws are published.
After it has been published in the Official Gazette any amendments must be announced so that all stakeholders are aware of them, “especially since there will be penalties resulting from this ban”, the committee says.
Article 16 of the law was also amended, with the reintroduction of a Dh1,000 maximum for fines.
The amount of fines for people who breach Articles 6 and 10 of the law will be decided by the Cabinet.
hdajani@thenational.ae