FNC passes draft law on translation

ABU DHABI - The Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday approved a draft law regulating the profession of translation (both oral and written interpretation). It also stipulates penalties.

Under the new bill, only professional and licensed translators will be allowed to take up related jobs and the penalties include financial fines of up to Dh100,000 and jail term of up to two years.

According to the draft law, only licensed translators will be allowed to take up related jobs. Those practising as translators without a licence and not qualifying the prescribed tests will be penalised. They will face a jail term of three months to a year, with fines between Dh10,000 and Dh30,000. The penalty for the licensed translators who make mistakes be a jail term of six months to two years and fines of Dh50,000 to Dh100,000, it stipulates.

The FNC session chaired by Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr was attended by Minister of Justice Dr Hadif bin Jowan Al Dhahiri, Minister of Education Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami, Minister of State for Financial Affairs Obaid Humaid Al Tayer and Minister of State for FNC Affairs Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash.

After a marathon debate, the House approved the bill with amendments pertaining to technical wording rather than key elements such as the penal codes.

However, the members suggested the laws regulating the jobs of translators must be tightened because a minor mistake in the job can ruin the life of an individual or a corporate organisation.

The house also maintained that professional translators were a must for securing social, communal and national interests. The members also stressed that professional and qualified translators at government establishments, particularly at courts, was the need of the hour. The house unanimously agreed with the draft that all translators must be qualified professionals, licensed and medically certified that they are mentally sound.

Khaleej Times

intarpretation ;  translation ;  law ;