UAE unemployment insurance scheme records strong uptake with 6.8 million enrolled

Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s landmark Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) scheme, which was launched in January 2023, saw over 6.8 million workers enroll in the first year itself, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar said.

The scheme now covers over nine million subscribers, including around 190,000 citizens. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) announced that compensation payouts have now exceeded Dh180 million.

More than 17,000 beneficiaries have received financial support under the programme.

In a written response to the Federal National Council (FNC) during its latest session, Dr Al Awar confirmed the high level of engagement with the scheme, which is designed to provide a safety net for workers transitioning between jobs.

Financial protection

The scheme, which covers both public and private sector employees, offers financial protection in case of involuntary job loss. It aims to promote job market stability without imposing a financial burden, with monthly subscription fees ranging from Dh5 to Dh10.

Dr Al Awar noted that of the 6.8 million workers who enrolled in the first year of the scheme, a significant number were not legally obligated to subscribe.

Enrolment made easy

To encourage participation, the MoHRE, working in collaboration with an insurance pool, has introduced nine different channels for enrolment.

These include an integrated digital system that allows employees to subscribe using their Emirates ID, with subscription and renewal processes streamlined to take just a few minutes.

For government employees, the system is linked with the Bayanati platform, while private-sector workers can subscribe through MoHRE’s employment contract portal, ensuring uninterrupted coverage aligned with contract durations.

The claims process has been enhanced to reduce paperwork and streamline access to benefits. Eligible workers can now submit claims via the official website, smart app, or call centre without uploading documents, as the system automatically retrieves necessary data from MoHRE’s records.

Awareness campaign

The MoHRE has also launched a multi-platform awareness campaign targeting private sector employees.

This includes sending over 60 million SMS notifications with subscription details, field visits to companies to promote enrolment, a dedicated call centre (600599555) for inquiries and automated reminders for premium payments and renewals.