- UAE reaffirms fair labour regulation under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, ensuring balanced rights for employers and employees.
- MoHRE launches an Awareness Toolkit for Employers, outlining obligations and entitlements to strengthen workplace relations and business stability.
- Law guarantees paid annual, sick, maternity, parental, and bereavement leave, wage protection, and end-of-service benefits for workers.
The United Arab Emirates has reaffirmed its commitment to regulating labour relations fairly and in a balanced manner, ensuring that employers' and employees' rights and obligations are well stipulated under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations. This legislation, supported by its Executive Regulations and resolutions from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), provides a framework that safeguards the interests of workers while maintaining the stability and efficiency of businesses.
In line with the vision and strategic objectives of the UAE government dedicated to respect for human dignity and acceptance of cultural diversity the Ministry has launched an Awareness Toolkit for Employers. The drive aims to make employers aware of legal obligations and entitlements that enhance contractual relations with their workers. In so doing, the government hopes to provide a stable, productive, and professional workplace that delivers development while ensuring easy business continuity.
The toolkit points out the various types of leave private-sector employees have under law. They consist of annual, sick, maternity, parental, bereavement, study, and national service leave, as well as entitlements to official public holidays. Employees are assured 30 days of fully paid yearly leave for every year worked, while women workers are entitled to 60 days of maternity leave with 45 days paid in full and the remaining 15 days on half pay.
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Sick leave for a maximum of 90 days is also provided after the probationary period, with the first 15 days paid in full, the subsequent 30 days half paid, and the rest unpaid. Moreover, employees can take bereavement leave, parental leave, and study leave on certain conditions, whereas UAE nationals are eligible for paid leave for obligatory national service.
The law also guarantees timely payment of wages in UAE dirhams, unless stipulated otherwise, and mandates end-of-service benefits. The expatriate employees are entitled to gratuity pay after a continuous period of one year at the rate of 21 days' basic wage for every one of the first five years and 30 days for every year thereafter, based on the last drawn basic salary. The UAE nationals are accorded the right to end-of-service benefits in accordance with operating national systems.
With this step, the Ministry reiterates its commitment to creating a balanced and equitable working environment that promotes the UAE's long-term vision for sustainable development and human dignity.
