UAE touts new domestic workers law
The UAE, like other Gulf countries, has faced criticism for its treatment of foreign workers.
A new law to protect domestic workers will soon come into effect in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The “Domestic Helper Law” lays out several rights of workers, according to the UAE Ministry of Human Resources. The following are some of the rights:
- A paid one-day break per week
- At least 12 hours of break per day
- A yearly paid vacation of at least 30 days
- A roundtrip plane ticket every two years paid by the employer for the worker to take a vacation in their home country
- A maximum of 30 days sick leave
- Receiving a copy of their work contract
The law further stipulates that recruitment agencies must carry out “health checks” of domestic workers at least 30 days before they enter the UAE. The agencies must also inform the workers about Emirati social and cultural norms and secure them “appropriate” accommodation and living conditions, according to the ministry.
The Domestic Helper Law was passed last week and will take effect Dec. 15, the official Emirates News Agency reported today.
