In June 2017, the Federal National Council adopted a new law to protect domestic workers. Under Federal Law No. 10 of 2017, 19 professions are classified as domestic work. These categories of work are protected by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).
Who are domestic workers in Dubai?
Under Federal Law No. 10, also known as the Domestic Workers Law, the following professions are classified as domestic workers:
- Housekeeper
- Private sailor
- Guard and security officer
- Household shepherd
- Family driver
- Parking valet
- Domestic horse groomer
- Domestic falcon keeper and trainer
- Domestic worker
- Domestic helper
- Private trainer
- Private tutor
- Babysitter/nanny
- Household farmer
- Gardener
- Private nurse
- Private agricultural engineer
- Cook
Domestic workers' rights
In accordance with the domestic workers law, domestic workers are entitled to the following benefits:
- payment of their wages, as stated in the employment contract. Wages must be paid no later than 10 days from the date they are due. Recently, the authorities reminded businesses that fail to comply with this deadline may face fines of AED 50,000.
- 1 paid day off per week
- 12 hours of rest per day, including 8 consecutive hours of rest
- 30 days of paid leave per year
- medical insurance provided by the employer
- 30 days of sick leave per year
- a round-trip ticket home every 2 years
- decent accommodation
- decent meals at the employer's expense
- suitable clothing for the work to be performed, at the employer's expense
- the possession of their personal identity documents, such as passports, identity cards, etc. Employers are strictly prohibited from retaining their domestic workers' identity documents.
- The employer or worker may submit a dispute to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. The Ministry will attempt to resolve the dispute amicably within two weeks. If it is not resolved within two weeks, the case will be referred to court.
- Cases filed by workers are exempt from court fees at all stages of the dispute and must be heard promptly and without delay.
Legal prohibitions
The law is very clear, and the domestic workers law prohibits the following:
- the employment of anyone under the age of 18
- discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, and political opinions (it should be noted that not all nationalities are eligible)
- sexual harassment, whether verbal or physical
- forced labor or trafficking, in accordance with national legislation and ratified international conventions
- exposure to physical harm
- the assignment of tasks not covered by the contract.
Obligations of domestic workers
Domestic workers have rights, but they also have obligations to fulfill.
Their obligations include:
- The worker must perform the work personally.
- The worker must observe the customs and traditions of society and comply with
public morality.
- The worker must comply with the confidentiality clause and must not disclose confidential information related to the employer's work - violating this clause is punishable by imprisonment for up to 6 months and a fine ranging from AED 10,000 to 100,000.
- The worker must inform the Ministry of any change of residence.
- The worker must perform their duties according to the employer's specifications.
Procedure for hiring and recruiting domestic staff
Previously, agencies handled the process of hiring domestic staff, but under the new rules, TADBEER centers now handle this process.
TADBEER centers are regulated by MOHRE. They now recruit domestic staff, and TADBEER alone is responsible for preparing the contract, applying for visas, training, cancellation, and disputes.
There are different ways to sponsor a domestic worker, as follows:
- Direct sponsorship: under this arrangement, the center hires domestic workers from outside the UAE and guarantees employers that the employees will be capable and loyal for 180 days (6 months). Under this program, the employees' visas will be placed under the direct sponsorship of the employing family.
- Tadbeer sponsorship: under this arrangement, domestic workers will be hired under Tadbeer's sponsorship. Tadbeer provides flexible services based on the needs of the employing family at a unified cost for all nationalities. We can assist you if you choose this arrangement.
Our firm, in close association with Tadbeer, can assist you with the process of hiring a maid or domestic worker.
We invite you to contact us at
support@merritt.group.
