UAE cracks down on 2 domestic worker agencies for violations

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Two domestic worker recruitment agencies in the UAE – Emirates International Centre for Domestic Workers and Al Shamsi Domestic Workers Services – have had their licences revoked for failing to comply with the Domestic Workers Law.

This is according to statement released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), which said the two agencies fell foul of regulations governing this space, which safeguards the rights of all contractual parties – employers, recruitment agencies and domestic workers alike.

The Ministry has revoked the licenses of 2 domestic worker recruitment agencies – Emirates International Centre for Domestic Workers and Al Shamsi Domestic Workers Services – for failing to comply with the obligations stipulated in the Domestic Workers Law, its executive…

— وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) December 15, 2023

The MoHRE said it has instructed the two agencies to “settle the status of their workers, fulfill their obligations, and pay any fines that were due until the date of licence cancellation”.

“Domestic worker recruitment agencies must adhere to the legislation issued to regulate their operations, which ultimately serves to improve the services they provide to employers and families, as well as safeguarding the rights of all parties, including employers, domestic workers, and recruitment agencies.”

MoHRE said that it will “not be lenient in implementing legal procedures against any domestic worker recruitment agencies found to be in violation of the law.”

The Ministry, in its statement, called on agencies to comply with its regulations to “ensure a healthy and safe environment for all workers, calling on employers to deal exclusively with agencies authorised by the Ministry, which are listed on its official website www.mohre.gov.ae“.