UAE Unemployment Insurance scheme deadline: Know last date of registration to avoid fines

The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE)’s registration deadline for the mandatory ‘Unemployment Insurance’ programme is coming up soon. The deadline has been extended by the ministry in June. This was done to provide relief to eligible individuals who had not subscribed to the Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) programme by June 30.

Introduced on January 1 this year, the ILOE programme made it mandatory for employees within the private sector and federal government to participate in an unemployment insurance scheme. This initiative is aimed at providing a safety net for individuals facing unexpected job losses.

Later, the programme was extended to encompass free-zone workers, excluding those within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). As of May 3, these workers were included in the programme’s scope.

Unemployment Insurance registration deadline

Recognising the evolving circumstances, the MoHRE took to Twitter on June 15 to announce the extension of the fine-imposition deadline. The revised deadline to sign up for the Unemployment Insurance scheme is October 1. Those who haven’t signed up now have a little more than a month to do so.

The Unemployment Insurance Scheme embodies the visionary leadership’s commitment to cultivating a thriving business environment in the country and elevating its reputation as a desirable place to work and live.
Learn more and register before October 1, 2023, through the link… pic.twitter.com/Uxd1Nd4f1H

— وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) August 19, 2023

Avoid fines by signing-up

It is important to note that enrollment in the job loss insurance scheme is the responsibility of the employee, not the employer. To avoid fines, eligible employees should take the initiative to register for the programme before the revised deadline. The MoHRE had announced a fine of Dhs400 for flouting the deadline.

The MoHRE social media account on Twitter announced that over five million employees from across the UAE had signed up for the scheme by June.

The Ministry announced on Monday that the number of subscribers to the Unemployment Insurance Scheme to date has surpassed 5 million.

Multiple subscription channels are provided by the Insurance Pool, including:

The website https://t.co/2FAf4mjhqG, the Insurance Pool smart app… pic.twitter.com/taQHaXCvzi

— وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) June 26, 2023

For added convenience, some employers may opt to facilitate payments on behalf of their employees. In such cases, employers could establish a streamlined process for reimbursing the contribution from their workforce. However, it’s worth mentioning that, currently, this facility is applicable solely to mainland employers.

Free-zone entities are yet to be included in this option.