UAE’s MoHRE defines guidelines on reporting workplace injuries, illnesses

A ministerial resolution has been issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), detailing the channels for reporting work-related illnesses and injuries, and the obligations of employers.

Ministerial Resolution No 657 of 2022 describes procedures for recording workplace accidents and illnesses in a database, allowing for the settlement of associated problems and identification of risks, with the goal of strengthening the occupational health and safety system in the private sector.

The ministry offers a number of ways to report any occupational ailment or accident, including calling the call centre at (600) 590-000, visiting businessmen service centres, or through the ministry’s smart applications.

Responsibilities of the employer

This procedure is under the purview of the employer, who is obliged to input information about the company, the injured employee, the date and severity of the injury, a brief account of the accident’s circumstances, and first aid and treatment protocols. The report is automatically included in the national system for work injuries.

The resolution intends to regulate how establishments with 50 or more employees deal with workplace accidents and illnesses. It stipulates that establishments develop a unique mechanism to track these illnesses and injuries.

This system should keep track of all work-related illnesses and injuries, as well as any preventive measures and rehabilitation programmes implemented for employees involved in hazardous activities. It should also define all activities that pose a threat to the health and safety of workers.

Additionally, it requires compiling a list of workers and establishing procedures for routine health examination, reporting incidents within the establishment, and investigating occurrences of occupational diseases and injuries.

The resolution also clarifies that the affected establishments must find ways to develop a report from the medical committees indicating the percentage of disability in the event of injury, provide a record of the frequency and dates of workers’ examinations, keep a record of workers exposed to occupational hazards for a period of at least five years after the end of their service, and provide the worker with proof of their period of employment in the establishment.

Compensation

An employer is obligated to treat and compensate an injured worker for any work-related illness or injury. The value of the work injury compensation is calculated based on the worker’s most recent basic salary.

The worker receives compensation after the release of the medical report indicating the percentage of impairment within a maximum of 10 days.

If the work injury or illness results in the worker’s death, the compensation is paid to his or her legal heirs in accordance with the country’s laws, or in accordance with what the person decides before passing away.

If a worker sustains a partial disability as a result of an occupational illness, or injury, the worker will be compensated with a portion of the value of permanent complete disability, in accordance with the percentages outlined in the Cabinet Resolution No 33 of 2022.

A specialised medical committee will decide whether there is a complete or partial disability in both circumstances, and the amount of compensation due to the worker in the event of a permanent complete disability is equal to the amount due in the event of death.

For example, if the worker’s basic salary was Dhs1,000 and the partial disability percentage was 25 per cent, the compensation would be as follows: 25 per cent of partial disability multiplied by the basic wage for 24 months results in Dhs6,000.

Before the injured or ill worker receives all benefits, the employer shall not end the working relationship and cancel the contract.

Additionally, all rights will be safeguarded in accordance with the report provided by the relevant committee if the employee decides to terminate the employment agreement prior to the release of the medical report.

In recent news, the Unemployment Insurance Scheme opened for subscription on January 1.

Read: UAE Jobs: What you should know about the new Unemployment Insurance Scheme