UAE employers warned of fines up to Dh1 million for five labour law violations
Penalties outlined by MOHRE
In a recent advisory, the ministry detailed the five categories of infractions that trigger the heavy financial penalties. The offences cover a range of practices that undermine the rights and protections afforded to workers under the UAE’s Labour Law.
The five violations
The first violation involves employing a worker without the required work permit. The second concerns leaving a worker idle — that is, not providing them with actual work while keeping them on the payroll. The third is the misuse of work permits, such as employing a person for a job or at a location different from what was authorised. The fourth violation applies to employers who close their business without first settling the legal status of their employees, including final dues and visa cancellations. The fifth and final violation is the unlawful employment of minors, which means hiring anyone below the minimum working age set by law.
For each of these infractions, the penalty is a fine of no less than Dh100,000 and no more than Dh1 million. The ministry stressed that the fines apply to any employer who engages a worker without fully complying with the provisions of the Labour Law.
Picture for illustrative purposes. Picture credit: AI-generated image.
