Over 75,000 labour law violations recorded in UAE

More than 75,000 violations linked to non-compliance with labour laws were detected in the UAE in 2023.

These breaches were recorded by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), which carried out over 430,000 inspection visits.

There were around 33,000 cases of non-payment of employees' salaries through the Wage Protection System (WPS), while 509 companies were referred to the public prosecution for carrying out unlicensed activities.

Other violations were linked to non-compliance with the mid-day beak, recruiting workers without a permit, submitting fake documents to obtain a service and passing on recruitment expenses to employees.

The Ministry came across 30 cases of employers failing to report work injuries, occupational diseases or the death of a worker, while there were 76 instances of worker accommodations not complying with standards.

A total of 1,077 companies were also pulled up for fake Emiratisation practices since mid-2022.

The Ministry emphasised that companies’ compliance with the rules is a key priority for its Inspection Sector, which employs innovative digital and field supervision system, supported by agreements to provide advanced training for inspectors and familiarise them with the latest labour inspection practices.

In parallel with these efforts, the ministry carries out awareness programmes and initiatives targeting workers and employers.

In 2023, more than 49,000 orientation workshops were conducted in 15 different languages that benefitted over 2 million workers, while over 9,000 employers attended 97 workshops organised to raise awareness about the laws and ministerial decisions regulating the labour market.