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UAE: 14 domestic worker agencies penalised for failing to refund employer fees
Mohre reported 22 violations in January and assured continued monitoring of maid recruitment agencies to protect the rights of all parties
- PUBLISHED: Tue 25 Feb 2025, 3:31 PM
Legal and administrative action was taken against 14 domestic worker recruitment agencies in January for 22 violations of the domestic workers law and regulations. These violations included failing to refund recruitment fees to employers and non-compliance with UAE domestic labour laws.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre) reported that the violations included 20 cases where the agencies failed to refund recruitment fees to employers within two weeks of a domestic worker's return or reported absence.
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Additionally, two violations were recorded for non-compliance with the ministry’s regulations, circulars, decisions, commitments and other work guidelines related to domestic worker recruitment agencies.
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Action will be taken against any agency proven to have committed violations, including revoking the licence of offices involved in violations that warrant closure, the ministry said.
Mohre has called on employers to reach out through its digital channels and platforms or via the labour claims and advisory call centre on 80084 to report any violations committed by domestic worker recruitment agencies, particularly regarding the failure to adhere to the legal timeframe for refunding all or part of the recruitment fees.
The authority said that the maid agencies must provide qualified domestic workers who can fulfil assigned tasks while adhering to all legal regulations governing employer-employee relationships.
It urged residents to refrain from dealing with unlicenced domestic worker recruitment agencies and untrustworthy social media pages that promote services for this category of the workforce. Such practices may result in significant health and security risks to families, in addition to having to face the legal consequences for employing unlicensed workers.