Licensed domestic worker agencies offer official rates, trained workers and two-year guarantees.
Abu Dhabi: UAE employers hiring domestic workers have been urged to deal only with licensed recruitment offices, as authorities raise awareness of the legal protections and safeguards available under the country’s domestic worker system.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said using unlicensed individuals or agencies can mean losing legal protections and may expose families to financial, security and health risks.
In certain circumstances, employers may also be entitled to recover some or all of their recruitment costs, depending on the applicable rules and circumstances of the case.
Licensed domestic worker recruitment offices must comply with officially approved prices, provide trained and qualified workers, and offer a two-year guarantee under UAE regulations, the ministry said, according to Al Etihad.
The ministry said UAE law allows employers to recover all or part of domestic worker recruitment costs in specific circumstances, providing households with additional protection when recruitment arrangements do not go as expected.
Under the traditional recruitment package, the domestic worker is registered under the employer and lives with the household for a two-year contract period. During the first six months, employers may request a replacement or reimbursement of recruitment costs in four cases specified under the law.
The four circumstances include cases where a domestic worker terminates the contract without a legitimate reason, leaves employment without an acceptable justification, is found medically unfit, or is unable to perform the duties agreed in the contract.
The ministry also stressed that employers have legal obligations, including paying wages on time through the Wage Protection System, providing suitable accommodation and healthcare, and respecting workers’ leave and employment rights.
Authorities said compliance by both employers and workers can help create more stable employment relationships and reduce disputes.
The ministry also highlighted alternatives to the traditional recruitment model. Under the temporary package, a trained and qualified domestic worker can be provided within 24 hours, while remaining registered with the recruitment office under a two-year contractual arrangement.
A flexible package allows domestic workers registered with recruitment offices to be hired by the hour, day, week or month, depending on the employer’s needs. Costs vary according to the arrangement, while the package includes trained workers, unlimited replacements and the provision of a worker within a maximum of 24 hours.
The guidance forms part of a wider awareness campaign designed to help employers understand their rights and responsibilities, from recruitment through the full employment relationship.
The ministry said employers can use its website and smart application to complete recruitment procedures, manage contracts, access services and submit enquiries or complaints. Approved recruitment centres also offer the regulated process for hiring domestic workers.
The awareness material also explains health insurance arrangements for domestic workers and the protections available to both employers and workers under the applicable insurance system.
The ministry said its broader objective is to regulate the relationship between employers and domestic workers, while maintaining a balance between both parties’ rights and responsibilities and ensuring appropriate working conditions in line with UAE law.
