How to file a salary complaint with MOHRE in the UAE
Use a confidential complaint service to claim unpaid wages and illegal deductions
Dubai: Facing unpaid salary, missing overtime or unauthorised deductions in the UAE can be stressful but there is a clear process to address labour complaints. A Gulf News reader recently asked about their legal rights in such a situation:
“I have been working in a company in Dubai since July 2023. I work 12 hours every day without weekly off or overtime payment. The company did not pay me for annual leave, public holidays, and also made unauthorised salary deductions. Even after my promotion, my full salary was not paid. What can I do?”
If you are facing similar issues - unpaid overtime, no weekly rest, missing annual leave pay, withheld public holiday pay or unauthorised deductions, it’s important to know that the UAE’s labour regulations offer clear protection. MOHRE encourages workers to report workplace violations and as a private-sector employee, you have the legal right to receive all pending dues. These violations fall under non-compliance, and you are entitled to raise a complaint.
One of the most effective solutions is to file a salary complaint through the MOHRE app, a straightforward and confidential process. Once submitted, MOHRE investigates the issue, contacts your employer and works to reach an amicable resolution to ensure your full salary and pending dues are paid.
Filing a salary complaint on the MOHRE app
Before starting, download the MOHRE app and make sure you have a UAE Pass account. Sign in using UAE Pass and select the Employee category.
On the homepage, tap the ‘My Salary’ option. Since the UAE Pass is linked to your Emirates ID, your employment details - company name, labour card number, and contract expiry date will appear automatically.
You will then need to enter the mobile number of your employer or HR, and select the specific dates where you did not receive overtime, salary, or where unauthorised deductions occurred.
Options available in the salary complaint section
Choose the correct category that reflects your situation:
Did not receive salary for more than 15 days
Did not receive salary for more than a month
Did not receive salary for more than 2 months
Illegal deductions
Did not receive overtime
Select the relevant option and click Submit.
To use this service, you must not already have a pending complaint or an active labour dispute in court. There is no service fee, and MOHRE may take up to 14 days to resolve the complaint.
Confidentiality of MOHRE salary complaints
According to MOHRE, this service allows employees to file a confidential complaint regarding an employer’s failure to pay wages on time without revealing the employee’s identity to the employer.
What happens after you file the complaint?
For mainland employees, once a complaint is filed, MOHRE officials will attempt to mediate the issue by contacting both parties, usually by phone or video call to reach an amicable resolution.
If no settlement is reached:
For claims under Dh50,000:
MOHRE has the power to issue a final, legally binding decision.For claims above Dh50,000:
If no agreement is achieved, MOHRE will issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC), allowing the employee to take the case to court.
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