The UAE has issued a new federal law to strengthen domestic labor rights.
The new law guarantees the rights of all parties in a relationship, whether workers, employers, or recruitment agents, in line with clear standards and frameworks.
The decree law covers working hours, weekly breaks, and leave for domestic workers and affirms the right of domestic workers to a paid day off per week, according to the law’s executive regulations.
The executive resolutions issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization are responsible for working hours and leaves.
The decree law stipulates the right of domestic workers to be paid annual leave of no less than 30 days, said WAM.
If the service period is less than a year and more than six months, workers are entitled to two days’ leave every month, and the employer can specify the start date of the annual leave.
Moreover, the law says if domestic workers wish to travel to their home countries on annual leave, employers must cover the cost of their return tickets once every two years.
The decree law affirms the right of domestic workers to sick leave for a period not exceeding 30 days during a contractual year, whether continuous or intermittent if the need for this leave can be proven by a medical report issued by an approved national health authority.
Furthermore, the law affirms the right of domestic workers to change their employer based on the requirements set in their contracts and if they have fulfilled their obligations to the original employer, according to the conditions and procedures included in the resolution of the ministry.
The decree law stipulates that the employer will inform the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization about any violations committed by a domestic worker against applicable laws.
Recruitment agents must administer the necessary medical examinations for domestic workers within a period not exceeding 30 days before their entry into the country, the law confirmed.
The law also prohibits recruiting or temporarily hiring domestic workers without obtaining a license from the ministry, according to the executive regulation of the decree law and the ministry’s resolutions.
