Employers and private sector organizations have been cautioned by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE) not to hire people without a current ministry-issued work visa, even temporarily, for domestic or commercial employment.
According to the ministry's most recent edition of Human Resources Magazine, which is available on its official website, anyone who receives a work authorization from MOHRE is subject to labor regulations. Employers are in violation of the UAE Labour Relations Law if they hire workers without a valid permit.
Employers who are discovered to be employing undocumented workers face immediate administrative sanctions, which include:
- suspension of the employer's labor file immediately.
- refusal to provide domestic servants fresh work permits.
- referral to the Public Prosecution in order to face legal and financial consequences.
These actions are consistent with the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 on Domestic Workers, which forbids hiring domestic workers without a valid permit or for them to work for third parties without a legitimate permit.
MOHRE emphasized that, in line with Article 27 of the Federal Decree-Law on Domestic Workers, employing domestic workers without a license is a serious infraction that carries a minimum one-year prison sentence and fines of Dh200,000 to Dh1 million.
Employing undocumented domestic workers or permitting them to work for third parties without legal regularization is a major legal offense that puts employers and their families at risk for health and social issues, the ministry added.
Only licensed recruitment agencies should be used, according to MOHRE's advice to companies, which can be confirmed on its official website and social media accounts. These organizations are overseen by the ministry, guaranteeing both Emirati and foreign households receive top-notch services.
