UAE: Mandatory Jobs to Register Employees Under Wage Protection System Revealed
The UAE has outlined which domestic worker professions need to register for the Wage Protection System (WPS), as well as the professions that can register voluntarily. The WPS was introduced by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), to ensure that the relationship between employers and domestic workers is stable and that wages are paid to the domestic worker easily and on time.
The UAE Wage Protection System
The WPS came into effect on April 1 and requires all facilities registered at the Ministry to pay the salaries of their workers at least once a month, or at the times stated in the employment contract, if less than one month, provided that this payment is according to the procedures and times specified in this decision.
According to a Twitter post by the MoHRE, five domestic worker professions must be registered for WPS. These professions include:
- Personal healthcare provider
- Personal trainer
- Private agriculture engineer
- Personal tutor
- Personal PRO (Public Relations Officer)
Aside from this, the authority also listed 14 domestic worker professions where employers can decide whether to register them in the WPS. These professions include:
- Nanny/babysitter
- Household shepherd
- Housekeeper
- Household horse groomer
- Housemaid
- Physical labour worker
- Sailor
- Household falcon trainer
- Cook
- Farmer
- Security guard
- Gardener
- Personal driver
- Tamer
In July 2022, the UAE updated a number of rules under its WPS, to further ensure the protection of workers and their salaries in the country. The MoHRE had said that it would monitor companies through field visits and inspections, as part of the new resolution.
If found in violation of this, the authority said it would issue penalties on companies based on the company size, duration of delayed salaries, and the number of employees facing the issue.
