EVALUATING THE RIGHTS OF DOMESTIC WORKERS IN UAE LAW
Main Article Content
Abstract
The UAE Labour Law, effective 2022, has come up with new changes as UAE has improved their laws with time to time. The UAE is demonstrating its commitment to fostering a forward-thinking and socially conscious labor market by adopting these suggestions in addition to adhering to global best practices. The UAE's Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021, a significant legislative innovation, aims to improve many aspects of workers in addressing modern social expectations.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has implemented labour market transparency, equality, and workers' rights. Harmonious workplace dynamics are fostered by the establishment of standard employment contracts, the Wage Protection System (WPS), and legislative initiatives to regulate overtime pay. These actions demonstrate a commitment to global best practises. A proactive approach to employee welfare shown in the strengthening of occupational health and safety regulations, providing just compensation for work-related fatalities, and improving maternity leave policy. A fair and transparent labour market is facilitated by formalising domestic worker recruiting contracts, increasing public understanding of labour laws, and enhancing enforcement strategies. Interestingly, the UAE's emphasis on helping migrant laborers, especially those engaged in informal domestic work, demonstrates a broad dedication to the welfare of its diversified labour population. All things considered, these results demonstrate how committed the UAE is to creating fair and reasonable work environments via methodical advancements, regulatory structures, and assistance program.
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
The Federal Reserve. "Access FedLine Web®." No date. https://www.frbservices.org/Electronic-Access/AccessFedLine.html (accessed December 5, 2023).
Halabi, Romina. "Contract enslavement of female migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates." Human Rights & Human Welfare 8, no. 1 (2008): 31.
Gulf News. "New UAE Domestic Worker Law Comes into Effect December 15." Gulf News, 14 Dec. 2022. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/new-uae-domestic-worker-law-comes-into-effect/docview/2754262128/se-2.
Federal decree-law no.9 of 2022 concerning domestic workers. Available at: https://u.ae/-/media/Mohre-resolutions/Federal-DecreeLaw-No-9-of-2022-Concerning-Domestic-Workers-1.ashx (Accessed: 05 December 2023).
Federal Decree-Law No. 9/2022, article 14
Cabinet Resolution 106/2022
Federal Decree-Law No. 9/2022, article 7
Cabinet Resolution 106/2022, article 8
Federal Decree-Law No. 9/2022, article 9(1)
Cabinet Resolution 106/2022, article 8
Federal Decree-Law No. 9/2022, article 10(1)
Federal Decree-Law No. 9/2022, article 10(2)
Federal Decree-Law No. 9/2022, article 10(6)
Heard-Bey, Frauke. "The tribal society of the UAE and its traditional economy." United Arab Emirates: a new perspective (2001): 98-116.
Khalaf, Sulayman N. "Dubai camel market transnational workers: an ethnographic portrait." City & Society 22, no. 1 (2010): 97-118.
Sonmez, Sevil, Yorghos Apostolopoulos, Diane Tran, and Shantyana Rentrope. "Human rights and health disparities for migrant workers in the UAE." Health & Hum. Rts. 13 (2011): 17.
A. Barnett, Michael Malcolm and H. Toledo. "Shooting the goose that lays the golden egg: the case of UAE employment policy." Journal of Economic Studies, 42 (2015): 285-302.
Decretal Federal Law 8/2007, On the Amendment of Some Provisions of the Federal Law No. 8/1980 Regarding the Regulation of Labor Relationships (Year of Publication), § Section Number if Available.
J. Murray. "Work Choices and the radical revision of the public realm of Australian statutory labour law.." Industrial Law Journal, 35 (2006): 343-366.
Federal Law No. (15) of 2017, Article. (2)
Federal Law No. (15) OF 2017 Recruitment and Employment Offices Article (3)
Federal Law No. (15) OF 2017 Recruitment and Employment Offices Article (7)
C. Scherrer. "The economic and political arguments for and against social clauses." Intereconomics, 31 (1996): 9-20
W. Böhning. "The protection of migrant workers and international labour standards." International Migration, 26 (1988): 133-146
Ibid 24
Michael C. Ewers and R. Dicce. "Expatriate labour markets in rapidly globalising cities: reproducing the migrant division of labour in Abu Dhabi and Dubai." Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 42 (2016): 2448 - 2467.
David Keane and N. Mcgeehan. "Enforcing Migrant Workers' Rights in the United Arab Emirates." International Journal on Minority and Group Rights, 15 (2008): 81-115.
Hamda Al Dhaheri, T. Loney, T. Aw, A. Adem, B. Ádám, A. Elias, M. Grivna and I. Blair. "772 Gap analysis on pesticides control and occupational health legislation in the united arab emirates." Injury Prevention, 22 (2016): A276 - A276.
M. Bayzid, A. Alshamsi, Salah Albeshr, Aaron Smith, Shamma Al Mulla, Meshal Almutairi and Haitham Nobanee. "Overview of Financial Institutions in the United Arab Emirates." Regulation of Financial Institutions eJournal (2020).
Prospera Tedam, Beverly A. Wagner and Vivienne Mitchell. "Social Work Regulation in the United Arab Emirates." Research on Social Work Practice, 33 (2022): 29 - 40
S. Sönmez, Y. Apostolopoulos, Diane H. Tran and Shantyana Rentrope. "Human rights and health disparities for migrant workers in the UAE." Health and human rights, 13 2 (2011): E17-35.
UAE Labor Law." No date. UAE Labor Law. Available at: https://www.uaelaborlaw.com/. Accessed December 6, 2023.
Ibid 30
Husain, Zainab. 2022. New UAE labour law: What are my rights if I get injured at work? Gulf News, Jan 20, 2022. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/new-uae-labour-law-what-are-my-rights-if-i-get/docview/2621307920/se-2 (accessed December 7, 2023).
Ibid 32
Tabrez, Huda. 2023. New UAE labour law: How your maternity leave and entitlements have changed. Gulf News, Aug 12, 2023.
Ibid 34
N. Crossley. "19. United Arab Emirates." (2016): 531-544.
Amir, S.A. "New UAE domestic worker law comes into effect." The National, December 15, 2022. https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/2022/12/15/new-uae-domestic-worker-law-comes-into-effect/ (Accessed December 6, 2023).
Ibid 39
Ibid 32
Lalu Husni and A. Suryani. "Legal Protection for Woman Domestic Workers Based on the International Convention." Journal of Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues, 21 (2018): 1.
M. Romero. "Reflections on Globalized Care Chains and Migrant Women Workers." Critical Sociology, 44 (2018): 1179 - 1189.
H. AnySuryani. "Legal Protection for Domestic Workers of Women Under the International Convention on Human Rights." Journal of Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues, 21 (2018).
Tabrez, Huda. 2022. New UAE labour law: Women should get equal pay for equal work. Gulf News, Jan 19, 2022. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/new-uae-labour-law-women-should-get-equal-pay/docview/2621026868/se-2 (accessed December 7, 2023).
Ibid 37
Ibid 45
Sabban, Rima. "United Arab Emirates: Migrant women in the United Arab Emirates. The case of female domestic workers." Gender Promotion Program (2002).
Ibid 37
Sabban, Rima. "United Arab Emirates: Migrant women in the United Arab Emirates. The case of female domestic workers." Gender Promotion Program (2002).
M. Hvidt. "Exploring the Nexus between Highly-Skilled Migrants, the Kafala System, and Development in the UAE." Journal of Arabian Studies, 9 (2019): 75 - 91.
Malaeb, Hanan N. "The “Kafala” system and human rights: time for a decision." Arab Law Quarterly 29, no. 4 (2015): 307-342.
L. Reber. "“It’s better I’m dead”: oppression and suicidal ideation." International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care (2021)
H. Khondker. "Class, identity, and insecurity: Bangladeshi temporary migrants in the United Arab Emirates." Current Sociology, 66 (2018): 257 - 272.
Dr.Ansari P A and Prof.Anisur Rahman. "Covid 19 And Its Implications For Gulf Migrants: Some Reflections From Kerala." Journal of Psychology and Political Science (2021).
A. Barnett, Michael Malcolm and H. Toledo. "Shooting the goose that lays the golden egg: the case of UAE employment policy." Journal of Economic Studies, 42 (2015): 285-302
E. Abdullaev. "TRADITIONS AND INNOVATIONS IN LEGISLATIVE REGULATION OF LABOR RELATIONS WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF A FOREIGN ELEMENT IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE UAE." Scientific Review. Series 1. Economics and Law (2022).
Tareq Na'el Al Tawil, Muath M. Eleswed and Walaaeldeen Ibraheem. "From the industrial revolution to globalisation and integrative labour markets." International Journal of Environment, Workplace and Employment (2019).
P. Ignatiev. "THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: WHAT IS BEHIND ECONOMIC MIRACLE?." (2020): 4-16.
Daleure, Georgia, and Georgia Daleure. "UAE goes global." Emiratization in the UAE Labor Market: Opportunities and Challenges (2017): 7-26.
Prospera Tedam, Beverly A. Wagner and Vivienne Mitchell. "Social Work Regulation in the United Arab Emirates." Research on Social Work Practice, 33 (2022): 29 - 40.
E. Abdullaev. "TRADITIONS AND INNOVATIONS IN LEGISLATIVE REGULATION OF LABOR RELATIONS WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF A FOREIGN ELEMENT IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE UAE." Scientific Review. Series 1. Economics and Law (2022).
Bälz Kilian. "Part 2 National and Regional Reports, Part 2.2 Asia: Coordinated by Yuko Nishitani and Béligh Elbalti, 39 United Arab Emirates: Emirati Perspectives on the Hague Principles." (2021).
Council Regulation (EC) 593/08 of 17 Juni 2008 on the Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations [2008] OJL 177/6
Penasthika, Priskila. "Pilihan Hukum dalam (The Hague Principles 2015)." Available at SSRN 3816053 (2021).
World Health Organization. Framework for action for health workforce development. 2017. http://www.emro.who.int/images/stories/hrh/Strategic_framework_for_health_workforce_development_MAY_2017_3.pdf. Accessed 20 Nov 2017.
World Health Organization. "Global strategy on human resources for health: workforce 2030." (2016).
Ibid 54
Paulo, Marília Silva, Tom Loney, and Luís Velez Lapão. "How do we strengthen the health workforce in a rapidly developing high-income country? A case study of Abu Dhabi's health system in the United Arab Emirates." Human resources for health 17 (2019): 1-8.