WORKER WELFARE &

RIGHTS IN THE UAE

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

January 2021
 For the UAE, respect for labor rights is a moral, cultural and
economic imperative. The UAE has taken active and resolute steps in
implementing laws, regulations, policies and monitoring measures to
consistently enhance the working conditions of its labor force and
address any gaps.
WELFARE & RIGHTS
WAGES
According to Ministerial Decree No. 739
of 2016 Concerning the Protection of
Wages, all employers registered with
the Ministry of Human Resources and
Emiratisation (MoHRE) must subscribe
to the Wages Protection System (WPS)
and pay the wages of their employees
as per the due dates.
STANDARD CONTRACTS
& DOMESTIC WORKERS
All contracts stipulate mandatory paid
leaves, rest days, medical insurance,
accommodation, meals, possession
of personal IDs, and access to free of
charge legal support.
Federal Law No. 10 of 2017 on the
support of domestic helpers outlines their
legal rights and entitlements, regulations
for recruitment agencies, and the terms
and conditions of employment, such as:
§ Payment of wages as per due dates
§ Self-possession of personal
identification papers such as
passports, IDs, etc.
§ Medical insurance provided by the
employer
January 2021
LIVING STANDARDS &
ACCOMMODATION
Ministerial Resolution No. 591 of 2016
concerning the Commitment of
Establishments outlines that
establishments with 50 or more workers,
where the wage of each worker is less
than AED 2,000 per month, must provide
accommodation for workers. The UAE
conducts inspections of
worker accommodation and is able
to suspend business licenses or call
companies before the public prosecutor.
Cabinet Resolution No. 13 of 2009
approved the general standards manual
for group labor accommodation and
related offerings such as medical, dining,
laundry, and other services.
Every employer who employs staff in
remote areas that are not served by public
means of transportation must provide his
employees with transportation,
accommodation, drinking water, food, first
aid services, and means of entertainment
and sports activities.
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
• Along with remaining in possession of their
IDs, workers have the right to change jobs
when a contract expires or through a
voluntary termination clause as per the
agreement.
• There is no requirement for an exit permit or
permission from the employer to travel.
 COVID-19

PREVENTION &
PROTECTION

MoHRE has provided channels for complaints and inquiries of workers through smart
applications and a free call centre in 13 different languages.

MoHRE established a 'My salary complaint' service, which allows workers to report the
late payment of their salaries.

MoHRE introduced the ‘Early leave’ initiative, allowing employees whose work has
been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to take their annual leave early in their
home countries. The initiative is intended to last for the period that any federal COVID-
19 measures remain in place.

The UAE Red Crescent has taken care of all the families of those who died due to
COVID-19 in the UAE as part of the ‘You are among your families’ initiative. It aims to
provide everything that these families need and contribute to enhancing their ability to
overcome the ordeal of losing a loved one.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced free stem-cell therapy to

critical patients of COVID-19, with the treatment provided to alleviate symptoms and
ensure a faster recovery.

As part of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, HH

Sheikha Hind Al Maktoum launched the ’10 million meals’ campaign, the UAE’s largest
food distribution drive, to support low-income families and individuals affected by the
COVID-19 outbreak across the UAE.

The UAE has coordinated the safe repatriation of hundreds of thousands of workers,
including by arranging numerous air bubble agreements with major source countries to
facilitate cross-border movement.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention has conducted field surveys of industrial areas
and workers' housing with the aim of early detection and provision of timely treatment.

January 2021
 GOVERNANCE & COMPLIANCE
The following entities play a role in
safeguarding the compliance of the
UAE’s worker welfare, health and
safety regulations as per the
frameworks of their jurisdictions:
MoHRE
Police department in each Emirate
Ministry of Justice and the Public
Prosecution
Governments of each emirate, including
municipal bodies
Ministry of Health and Prevention and
Department of Health in each emirate
The Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) was
established in 2008 as a forum for dialogue and
cooperation between Asian countries of
labor origin and destination. ADD helps to
ensure that Member States develop
partnerships for adopting best practices.
GRIEVANCE
PROCEDURES &
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
MoHRE has set up a 24-hour toll-free
hotline at 80060 to allow workers to
obtain consultative support in 13
languages.
The UAE has established offices in
courts to ensure legal support to workers
in labour disputes.
January 2021
The UAE has ratified the following
Conventions for the protection of
workers:
1. Forced Labour Convention, 1930
2. Equal Remuneration Convention,
1951
3. Abolition of Forced Labour
Convention, 1957
4. Discrimination (Employment and
Occupation) Convention, 1958
5. Minimum Age Convention, 1973
6. Worst Forms of Child Labour
Convention, 1999
7. Labour Inspection Convention,
1947
8. Hours of Work (Industry)
Convention, 1919
9. Night Work (Women) Convention
(Revised), 1948
FAIR & ETHICAL
RECRUITMENT
Ministerial Resolution No. 1283 of
2010, Art.6 prohibits private recruitment
agencies from gaining fees and
commissions from workers.
A compulsory receipt of offer in the
mother language in the country of origin
with signed or fingerprint signature is
required. The offer must also be
registered at MoHRE and retrieved
for verification while signing the contract.
 HEALTH & SAFETY

PROTECTION FROM WORK RELATED

HAZARDS, ACCIDENTS, ILLNESSES

Articles 91 to 101 of the UAE Labour Law specify provisions for employees' safety and
healthcare, such as:

• Employers are required to provide their employees with suitable means of protection
against injuries and dangers such as a fire that may result from the use of machinery
and other work equipment and against occupational diseases that may be contracted
during work.

In case of an injury or death at the workplace, the employer/s must inform MoHRE within
24 hours of the incident taking place.

According to Article 149 of the Labour Law, the compensation for death at work is equal
to the basic wage of the worker for 24 months, provided that the amount of
compensation is not less than AED 18,000 or more than AED 35,000.

WORKING HOURS
SUMMER WORKING
Article 65 of the UAE Labour Law
Construction and industrial workers are not
specifies the normal working hours
permitted to work outdoors during the hottest
for the private sector as eight hours
hours of the day in the summer months.
per day or 48 hours per week.
Any firm found to have staff working during the
The working hours may be increased designated break time would be fined AED 5,000
to nine hours a day for businesses,
per worker up to a maximum of AED 50,000.
hotels, and cafes after approval from
MoHRE.

The National Human Rights Committee aims to strengthen and develop institutional human rights
frameworks across the UAE. The Committee is in the process of preparing a national plan that will serve
as a comprehensive and integrated national human rights framework in the UAE for the coming years.
The plan aims to reinforce the UAE's efforts in the context of its regional and international commitments.

January 2021