Worker Protection Programs in UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the second home for many expats. With time, the UAE became an economic hub, especially since Dubai and Abu Dhabi started programs for businesses. The startup ecosystem in Emirate of Dubai and Emirate of Abu Dhabi has witnessed innovative ideas in the business environment, leading to economic growth.

Looking at the working class in the UAE, the government has also implemented worker protection programs, ensuring that everyone working in the UAE feels safe and that their rights are protected all the time. Our lawyers in Dubai and lawyers in Abu Dhabi can also advise you about business, business documentation and court cases, in Emirates respectively.

Overview:

The UAE has more migrant workers than the local people in the corporate sector. Therefore, the labour and employment laws in United Arab Emirates are stringent, ensuring the protection of the rights of the labourers, such as delayed salaries, unfair dismissal, or even workers’ compensation. These disputes are resolved under the UAE labour laws. Let’s explore further;

• UAE Labour Law

The law governs the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees. Cases related to equal pay, workplace discrimination, unfair termination, employment contracts, and longer working hours are resolved under labour law in UAE labour courts.

• Domestic Workers Law

Domestic workers are known as house helpers in the UAE. They help people manage house chores such as cleaning and cooking or provide driving services to the family if needed. These domestic workers have the right to get paid leaves and rest periods, which could be decided between the house owner and the domestic worker. Consequently, these workers are prone to domestic abuse because they have limited exposure to meeting people. Therefore, the domestic workers’ law ensures that no domestic worker shall be hurt or abused by the employer. They shall be paid within 10 days of the due date.

• Health and Safety Regulations

In the UAE, workers’ health and safety are ensured by adhering to health and safety standards in the workplace. A company cannot start unless it meets the UAE health and safety standards. In most cases, construction companies have to follow strict health and safety procedures because the chances of physical injuries are higher in this type of industry.

The UAE government is committed to providing a safe environment for migrant and local workers. There are worker protection programs introduced in the UAE, ensuring workers’ rights and safety. Let’s explore more:

• Wage Protection System (WPS)

The programs was originally introduced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE), where workers are ensured to get their salaries on time. Employers have to send salaries through verified financial institutions, so there are no disputes over unverified sources of salary distribution. The WPS ensures that employers are meeting the UAE labour laws and addressing the issues of non-payment.

• Employment Contracts in the UAE

The employment contracts in the UAE are discussed with the employment lawyers, ensuring that every clause is according to the UAE labour laws. The contracts should also ensure transparency and fairness by outlining responsibilities, obligations, and terms of the contract. As many expats are coming to the UAE, the government ensures that those migrant workers have already gone through the employment contracts and know what they are committing to. It avoids disputes on arrival.

• Labour Dispute Resolution Centers

There are centers in the UAE where employees can visit and receive mediation services to resolve labour disputes quickly. These are organized by MOHRE.

• Health Insurance for Workers

Employers should provide medical insurance to their employees that would cover the basic medical facilities.

• Housing and Living Standards

Workers, especially those living in labour camps, should have standard accommodation. The authorities must follow up with those camps to see if the living standards of the employees are legal. Accommodations and Translations are usually the part of labour contracts.

The UAE labour and employment laws ensure that every worker is working in a safe environment and get adequate health insurance. Besides that, they have other rights, too:

• Right to Get a Sufficient Salary

They have the right to receive fair wages, which means they are entitled to payment as agreed in the employment contract.

• Right to Work in a Safe Environment

Employers should ensure that the working conditions are safe for the workers. Construction sites or any workplace should be hazard-free, and safety equipment should be present at all times if needed.

• Paid Leaves

The workers in the UAE should get weekly rest days off, public holidays, and annual leave. All those leaves shall be paid, which means there shall be no deduction from their leaves unless they are taken more than agreed in the employment contract.

• Right to Resign or Terminate the Employment Contract

Employees are allowed to resign or even terminate the contract if they have valid reasons to do so. However, there shall be no penalty for their decision to leave the job unless a severe dispute has occurred or is found in the workplace. You can learn more from our labour and employment lawyers. We have top labour and employment lawyers in UAE.

• Right to Have Legal Support

If employees feel discriminated against at work or know their rights are violated by their employer, they can seek legal support in the UAE. Employment lawyers can help them take the next step to resolve the labour dispute. For legal support you can hire our legal consultants too.

Despite having labour laws, workers are exploited in different sectors. Every profession or legal status of employment comes with challenges:

• Domestic Workers

They face challenges such as physical, emotional, and mental abuse by their employers. The UAE has a Domestic Workers Law that ensures the protection of these workers, especially if the employer has retained their passports. It is illegal to take the employees’ passports unless they are working under you. The employee can get legal support in the UAE through labour lawyers.

• Construction Workers

Labour working in the construction industry is at higher risk than anyone else in the UAE because they are exposed to external factors such as hazardous conditions in the mines and extreme weather conditions in the summers. Their employer provides them with health and safety insurance, ensuring adequate workers’ compensation whenever needed.

• Migrant Workers

A lot of people in the UAE are expats who have come for better career opportunities and support families in their home countries. They shall be protected under the UAE labour and employment laws because these people face discrimination, harassment, and other ways of exploitation.

There have been technological advancements in worker protection programmes. There have been smart systems in which the employees’ salaries can be monitored over the online portal. There have been mobile apps that allow the worker to make complaints. They can track the status of their complaints online, ensuring transparency and fairness. Artificial intelligence (AI) is used to prevent disasters at work by putting sensors in place so the system can detect potential threats.

Working conditions for migrants in the UAE need to improve. The language barrier needs to be improved because communication is ineffective if the employer cannot understand the employee’s issues. There should be formal contracts for every worker because a non-formal contract shows zero effort to ensure the legal protections and benefits of the employee.

The UAE government must take more initiatives to develop effective strategies for workers’ protection. International labour laws should also be considered in the UAE labour laws, as this might improve the working conditions for many expats.