Living and Working as a Domestic Worker in Abu Dhabi

The Domestic Workers Law applies to 19 professions and forbids discrimination against domestic workers on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion, or political opinion. The UAE Domestic Labour Law establishes the principle of informed consent, ensuring that workers are aware of the terms of the contract, nature of the work, workplace, remuneration, Providing relaxation intervals on a daily and monthly basis in compliance with the executive regulations. Such consent must be obtained before they cross their national borders.

Internet Resources for Housekeepers

For the advantage of domestic servants, the UAE government offers specific services. The services include everything from offering specialized service locations to offering online inquiry platforms like Layboard. The Ministry of Health website has further connections to online resources for domestic workers.

Rules governing the hiring of domestic help

The hiring and employment of domestic workers in the United Arab Emirates is governed by Federal Decree Law No. 21 of 2023, which amends some of the terms of Federal Decree Law No. 9 of 2022 on domestic workers.

It forbids: 

1. Hiring anyone younger than eighteen (18).
2. Discrimination based on nationality, ethnicity, color, sex, and religion.
3. Verbal or physical acts of sexual harassment.
4. Either human trafficking or forced labor.
5. Physical injury sustained.
6. Assignment of labor outside the parameters of the agreement.

Earnings of a Domestic Worker in Abu Dhabi: What to Expect

In Abu Dhabi, domestic workers, including house maids, can typically earn between AED 1,500 and AED 2,500 per month. Salaries vary depending on experience, language skills, and the employer’s requirements. Some positions may offer additional benefits like accommodation, food, and healthcare. A house maid job in Abu Dhabi often comes with free lodging, which reduces living expenses and allows workers to save more. Overtime pay and bonuses may also be offered during busy periods or holidays, making it a viable option for those seeking stable employment.

Domestic Workers’ Rights

The Decree Law grants domestic workers the following rights: 

1. Payment of salaries in accordance with the terms of the standard contract within ten days of the date of payment
2. One compensated day off every week
3. 12 hours of sleep every day, with 8 of those hours being spent in complete silence
4. 30 days of fully compensated yearly leave
5. A return ticket every two years
6. 30 days of annual sick leave
7. Being in possession of identity documents, such as ID cards or passports.

The Employment Department’s obligations to domestic workers

1. The Employment Department’s responsibilities to domestic workers include informing them about the kind, quality, and amount of labor needed as well as verifying their suitability on a professional, mental, and physical level.
2. Performing the worker’s required medical examinations no later than 30 days prior to their arrival in the United Arab Emirates
3. Acquainting them with the practices and traditions of UAE culture and offering them well-equipped temporary housing
4. Respect them, tell them of their rights, and direct them to the appropriate parties if any of their freedoms or rights are violated. You should also provide the employer with any paperwork attesting to the worker’s wage being paid.
5. Without asking for or accepting any commission or other payment from the employees in exchange for luring them to the UAE or handling the process of getting them hired there.

The Legislative Decree mandates that the employer be given an alternative worker or compensated for the recruiting price in the event that the employment service breaches the terms of the contract. It also provides compensation for any potential losses resulting from the violation of contract.

If a domestic worker does not possess a legal work permit, employers are prohibited from hiring them. They have to sign an employment contract with the employee that follows the uniform standard contract that the Ministry of Health has set down. A copy of the contract must be given to the employee.

The length of time spent working as well as the fundamental rights and duties that the employer must uphold with regard to the nature of the job and the domestic worker’s pay must all be clearly stated in the employment contract.

It must outline the employer’s pertinent financial responsibilities for bringing the employee from his home country to the United Arab Emirates, together with the employment service costs.

The probationary term is limited to a maximum of six months

duties of employers to domestic employees. Along with adhering to the guidelines in the employment contract, the employer has other responsibilities, such as providing the circumstances required for the employee to carry out their tasks in an efficient manner.

1. Sufficient housing
2. Supplies and apparel
3. Prompt payment of compensation
4. Healthcare or health insurance
5. Courtesy and security
6. Payment for occupational illnesses and injuries sustained while working.

What a Domestic Worker Does

1. In addition to following the guidelines in their employment contracts, domestic workers must also do their jobs under the direction of their employers and in compliance with the terms of their agreements.
2. Maintain extreme vigilance and diligence when carrying out their responsibilities.
3. Avoid being absent without a good cause.
4. Respect the UAE community’s norms and traditions obey the employer’s instructions when the agreed-upon task is finished take care of or discard objects in their possession by following the appropriate storage methods
5. Observe privacy in the workplace.
6. Provide the required support and assistance in the case of natural catastrophes and hazards that endanger the workplace and its inhabitants. Always maintain work tools and objects in the specified areas of the workplace at all times.

Dispute Settlement

It is necessary to consult the Ministry of Health if there is a disagreement between the domestic worker’s employer and and it cannot be settled amicably. The Ministry of Health will provide suggestions and the case will be sent to court if it is not settled in two weeks. Workers’ cases are free of court costs during the whole trial process, but they still need to be handled quickly and effectively.

Work hours and weekly downtime

1. The minimum number of paid days of rest which the domestic helper is qualified for each week will be specified in the implementing regulations.
2. Employees who are required by their employer to work on the weekly rest day may be eligible for overtime pay for the extra labor or an alternative day off.
3. Every day, a domestic worker is qualified for a minimum of 12 hours of rest, which must include at least 8 hours of sleep without interruption.

Holiday rights

1. A domestic worker is entitled to at least thirty days of annual leave after one year of service. If the worker has been employed for less than a year, they are entitled to two days of leave for each month that they work.
2. If the domestic worker is compelled to work during his annual leave, the employer must give him access to equivalent days off or monetary compensation.
3. If an employee’s employment contract terminates before he takes his yearly leave, the company is required to reimburse the employee the equivalent of his unused vacation days.
4. In addition, the worker is qualified for up to thirty days of paid sick leave annually, of which the first 15 days will be paid in full and the remaining 15 days in half, if a medical certificate is shown.
5. An employee will not be reimbursed for their sick leave if their illness was caused by misconduct.