Seven conditions UAE employers should meet when recruiting workers from abroad

Dubai: If you have your own business or are an entrepreneur looking to hire new staff, there are a few conditions to keep in mind when hiring someone who is not currently in the UAE.

Every company in the UAE must comply with seven requirements in order to obtain a work permit, according to an online post by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) on Tuesday, May 30.

Here are all the details.

According to MOHRE, the following are the conditions that every employer should follow:

1. Enterprises should provide electronic licenses.

According to Shahjahan Elameulavil, office manager at Dubai-based First Gate Business Services, this means that businesses should have a business card issued by MOHRE. “Free zone companies only have business cards issued by the immigration bureau, however, companies operating on the mainland have two business cards – one issued by the immigration bureau and the other by the immigration department,” he said.

2. The minimum age requirement is 18 years old.

3. The application must meet the professional requirements.

“Work permit application procedures are different for different categories. For skilled categories, employers should provide educational credentials depending on the occupation being applied for,” Elameulavil said.

4. The occupation of workers should match the activities of the enterprise.

5. The business premises must hold a valid license.

6. Applications must be submitted by an authorized representative of the institution

7. Applicants should not have existing valid work permits.

According to the UAE’s information portal – u.ae, MOHRE may stop issuing or renewing work permits, or may cancel work permits, if a business:

• Providing incorrect documentation
• Is fictitious or did not conduct its registered activities
• incompatible ‘Paycheck Protection System‘ or any other system adopted to regulate the national labor market.

The cost of issuing and renewing a work permit varies from Dh250 to Dh3,450 as it depends on the classification of the company – A, B or C.

This is in accordance with Cabinet Resolution No. (37) of 2022 which amended some of the conditions in a previous Resolution (Resolution No. 21 of 2020) regarding service charges and administrative fines within MOHRE.

Category representative Company compliance Comply with the UAE’s labor laws, wage protection system, relevant MoHRE resolutions and directives, laws related to workers’ rights, and policies to promote cultural and demographic diversity.

Companies that violate the Labor Code and lack commitment fall into category C.

According to Article 6 of the UAE Labor Law regarding the recruitment and employment of workers, it is illegal for anyone to work in the UAE without a valid work permit issued in accordance with the procedures prescribed by MOHRE.

If an employer is found to be employing workers without the necessary work permits, fines of up to AED 200,000According to Article 60 of the Labor Code.