DUBAI: The UAE has passed a new law requiring residents to carry out security checks for work permits, including workers switching jobs in the country, local daily Gulf News reported on Tuesday. It is now mandatory for workers planning to change jobs in the UAE to obtain a security check, also referred to as a certificate of good conduct, regardless of the length of their service, a source told the Dubai-based newspaper. Officials told the publication that only candidates applying for their first job in the UAE would require a good conduct certificate from the country where they have lived over the previous five years. For existing workers, the certificate can be obtained from the local police force in the emirate. The source affirmed the checks helped with the judging of a candidate’s character and to identify potential hiring risks for safety and security reasons and to ensure the safety and security of the employees as well as their public and private employers. The documents must be certified by UAE missions abroad or through the attestation center at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The report added that the fee was $54 for UAE residents with additional knowledge and innovation fees costing $2.72. The new requirement does not apply to dependents of workers, students, tourists or health tourists.