UAE Domestic Workers Law: Guide to Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022
Detailed legal breakdown of domestic workers' statutory rights, working hours, mandatory rest periods, paid leave, medical insurance, and sponsor obligations.
Scope of Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022
Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 governs the recruitment, employment, and contractual relationships of all domestic workers in the United Arab Emirates. The law applies to 19 distinct professions, including housemaids, nannies, private drivers, cooks, elderly caregivers, household farmers, gardeners, and private tutors. It establishes a balanced legal relationship overseen by MOHRE, replacing ambiguities with enforceable statutory rights.
Mandatory Working Hours, Daily Rest, and Weekly Off
Article 9 of the law mandates that domestic workers are entitled to at least 12 hours of rest per day, of which at least 8 hours must be consecutive continuous rest. In addition, workers must receive a minimum of one full 24-hour paid weekly rest day. If an employer requires work during the designated rest day due to extraordinary family circumstances, the worker must be compensated with an alternative day off or overtime remuneration equivalent to daily basic pay.
Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Air Travel Entitlements
Domestic employees are entitled to 30 consecutive calendar days of paid annual leave for each completed year of service. The law also provides for up to 30 days of medical sick leave per contract year (the first 15 days at full pay, and the next 15 days at half pay upon presentation of an authorized medical certificate). Furthermore, the employer is legally obligated to provide a return economy airfare ticket to the worker's home country every two years upon contract completion.
Strict Prohibitions: Passports, Underage Labor, and Misconduct
The law strictly forbids employers from retaining or confiscating a domestic worker's passport, identity documents, or personal belongings under any circumstances. Employing any individual under the age of 18 is prohibited. Employers may not assign hazardous tasks, enforce disciplinary salary deductions without MOHRE approval, or subject domestic personnel to physical or verbal abuse. Violations carry administrative fines ranging from AED 20,000 to AED 100,000 and potential legal prosecution.
Statutory Obligations of the Domestic Worker
Workers are required by law to perform their household duties conscientiously as defined in the standard MOHRE employment contract, safeguard the property of the employer, observe cultural and social decorum in the UAE, maintain household privacy and confidentiality, and refrain from working for any third party without explicit ministry authorization.
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