UAE: When can employers claim refunds under new domestic worker law? – information

The recruitment or temporary employment of maids is only permitted with the relevant permission from Mohre

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A new law on the recruitment of domestic workers in the UAE came into force today. The law defines the roles and relationships between recruiters, employers and domestic workers and the rights of each.

According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the new law states that employers are eligible for refunds if the recruitment agency violates already agreed terms, or if the worker violates the terms of the two-year contract in the UAE (Mohre).

Here are three situations in which employers can claim recruitment and refund government fees:

1. During the probationary period, the worker behaves incompetent or has “bad character”.

2. The domestic worker terminates the contract or resigns due to illegal reasons.

3. The employer terminates the contract due to failure to fulfill the conditions agreed in the initial agreement, or the contract between the employer and the recruitment agency is terminated

Mohre said there would be no refunds if employers recruited domestic workers directly.

How is the refund calculated?

Mohre lays out a precise calculation of the refund value.

Where any of the above three situations can be proven within the first month of employment, or the laborer is unable to perform his duties during the probationary period due to health reasons, the recruitment agency must refund all recruitment fees to the employer.

Otherwise, the refund will be calculated using the following formula:

Refund = Total Recruitment Cost ÷ Number of Months Worker Worked X Remaining Term of Job Contract

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