UAE Labor Minister to staff: you are not traders - Khaleej Times

QUOTE. ABU DHABI — Some employees of the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry have resented the minister’s action in rejecting their visa applications for recruiting workers for businesses they run in a personal capacity. They wondered whether the minister, Dr Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi, had the right to block these visas, which would damage their businesses. They feel their applications were turned down without valid reasons despite complying with all conditions.

“When I tried to explain the reason behind rejecting my application for recruiting three labourers for my business needs, the minister asked me to either become a businessman or stick to my job as a ministry employee,” one of the aggrieved employees told Khaleej Times on condition of anonymity. The employee lamented that the minister told him that ministry employees were not traders. UNQUOTE.