UAE Extends Wage Protection System To Domestic Workers, Announces New Payment Rule

The UAE has extended its Wage Protection System (WPS) to people working in the homes of individuals. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization announced Thursday that UAE employers will need to transfer the salaries of their domestic workers starting April 1, depending on their categories.

The new payment rule will apply to domestic workers employed by individuals and not companies. According to the ministry, the rule aims to protect the rights of domestic workers and ensure that they receive their salaries on time.

Categories of domestic workers covered by the new rule include those who work on farms owned by individuals to ensure the quality of their produce, those who work for families and are tasked to conduct daily monitoring of their employer's email, plan and organize their professional meetings, and arrange their travels. The rule also applies to housekeepers, personal tutors and personal trainers brought to the country to serve Emirati families.

"As of April 1, 2023, employers should pay wages to domestic workers in these five categories through WPS. It will protect the rights of both parties and it is an easy way to pay salaries," said Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization Assistant Undersecretary Abdullah Al Nuaimi, adding the payment rule will be optional for other employers, but mandatory for those employing domestic workers under the specified categories.

"The ministry encourages all employers to use the WPS for salary payment to avoid problems and complaints," he added. "It would enable employers to document the payment of wages and safeguard the payment process. It is a simple way to protect the rights of both parties."

"The system will record that payments are happening on time," he added.

Based on the new rule, workers who belong to the abovementioned categories will no longer receive their salaries in cash, but will be paid through the WPS, which was initially introduced for construction workers. Before the deadline extension, the UAE urged employers to send their domestic workers' salaries through an online system. However, the rule was optional at the time, due to which most employers continued paying their workers in cash.