UAE: 29,000 labour law violations caught in private sector in 2024

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has announced that 688,000 inspections of private sector companies were conducted in 2024. Among these, 12,509 establishments were found in violation of labour, health, and occupational safety standards.

Additionally, 20 violations involved the practice of recruitment activities without a license between January and November 2024.

The ministry also reported that 29,000 violations were recorded in the private sector due to breaches of labour laws. These violations included charging workers recruitment fees, practicing recruitment without a license, closing companies without resolving employee matters, failing to comply with wage protection system (WPS) requirements, and submitting false information.

MOHRE emphasised that its inspection sector adopts innovative practices and legal standards for labour inspections. Key practices include notifying employers or their representatives about inspection visits unless the task requires otherwise, ensuring inspectors identify themselves, respecting the law, and conducting their duties responsibly and transparently while maintaining company confidentiality.

Guidance centres serve 2.8 million workers

The ministry revealed a significant increase in the number of guidance centres, reaching 330 across the UAE in 2024. These centres provided services to 2.8 million workers and are part of MOHRE’s efforts to educate the workforce about labour laws, rights, and responsibilities.

The centres offer services such as processing work permits and contracts, facilitating administrative procedures, and enhancing the experience of workers and employers. They also provide comprehensive awareness and training programs in various languages to educate workers on work hours, contract rights, and creating a safe and healthy work environment according to the latest standards.

According to ministry statistics shared with Gulf News, over 1.5 million workers completed self-guided orientation requirements via digital and smart platforms. These platforms offer guidance in 17 languages, ensuring awareness messages reach all worker categories in the UAE.

Worker grievances

Statistics indicate that the average number of complaints in the UAE labour market was three per 100 workers. The ministry’s “Tawjeeh” programme supports stable labour relations by raising awareness about worker rights and obligations, including work hours, rest periods, midday work bans, official holidays, and participation in the Wage Protection System and unemployment insurance.

Growth in private sector

MOHRE reported a 32.16% increase in the number of private sector establishments entering the UAE labour market in 2024. The statistics revealed a 17.02% growth in new companies and a 12.04% increase in the overall workforce, with skilled labour increasing by 13.23%.

Advancements in labour policies

In its efforts to enhance the labour environment, MOHRE has implemented several key policies, including mandatory health insurance for private sector workers and the introduction of a savings and unemployment insurance system. As a result of these policies, the UAE ranked first in the Arab world on the Global Labor Index for 2024.