Protection of Workers' Rights in the UAE: A Practical Guide

How to protect your rights as a worker

1. 1

   Read the 'Know Your Rights' guide

   The UAE issued a guide titled 'Know Your Rights' to educate labourers about their rights and obligations. Use it to learn what you are entitled to and what is expected of you as a worker from a foreign country. The guide is available in several languages, so you can read it in one you are comfortable with.

   Documents:'Know Your Rights' guide (PDF)Available in Bengali, Chinese, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Ur
2. 2

   Call the Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre

   If you have any labour-related grievance or legal matter, you can seek assistance by contacting MoHRE's 'Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre' on the toll-free number 80084. This is the first place to turn when you need advice or want to raise a complaint.

   Documents:Toll-free: 80084
3. 3

   Get legal support through the courts and labour care units

   The UAE has established offices in courts to provide legal support to workers in labour disputes. Labour care units have also been established across the UAE to protect workers and raise their awareness of their rights. You can approach these for help if your dispute moves toward a formal claim.

4. 4

   Know that small claims are exempt from litigation fees

   Cost should not stop you from pursuing what you are owed. Workers are exempt from paying litigation fees for claims less than AED 100,000. For the exact current threshold and any conditions, check the authority's website before you file.

5. 5

   Keep your passport and your freedom to travel

   The confiscation of workers' passports is prohibited, and you do not require your employer's permission to leave the country. If an employer holds your passport or tries to block your travel, that is against the rules, and you can report it through the channels above.

6. 6

   Understand the wider reforms behind these rights

   These protections are part of broader reforms for workers from foreign countries, including the UAE ratifying several conventions of the International Labour Organization related to the rights of workers. Reporting mistreatment has been made deliberately easy, so you are not alone in raising an issue.

Fees and timelines may change, verify with the official source.

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