Indians visiting UAE seeking employment opportunities have been asked to opt for Mission Visa, instead of a visit visa, which gives them a legal residence status.

"Job-seekers from India who wish to come to UAE can opt for a Mission Visa, instead of a visit visa, valid for three months," Indian Ambassador to the UAE Taimiz Ahmed told reporters day in Abu Dhabi.

The ministry of labour said that it will allow companies in all sectors to apply for Mission Work Permits for their employees who are in probation period or who are in the country for a short term job.

At present, people working on a visit visa are illegal and are thus not protected by the Labour Law.

"The Mission Visa gives the visitor a chance to decide whether he\she wants to work here or not. It gives them three-month legal residence status, and in this period, a person has the full freedom to look for employment of their choice," Ahmed, who participated in a meeting called by the UAE Labour Minister Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi, said.

Meanwhile, Al Kaabi said over 225,000 erring firms in the country are facing penalties for failing to give salaries to their employees through banks as per a decision taken by the Cabinet.

"There is no grace period for them, because we had announced the decision in June 2007. Hence the companies had full six months to comply with the cabinet decision to transfer the workers' salaries to their bank accounts," he was quoted as saying by the Khaleej Times.