Dubai Workers Can Claim Their Rights Legally: Trust in Legal Channels

This article from 2016 highlights the steps taken by Dubai Police and Dubai Municipality to increase awareness of workers' rights and improve workplace conditions, particularly in reducing stress caused by delayed wages.¹

While the core principle—that workers should know and use legal channels to resolve disputes—remains the focus, the methods, authorities, and legal frameworks in the UAE have been significantly updated since 2016.

Here is an analysis of the key points from the article, with modern context and current procedures:

⚖️ Workers' Rights and Dispute Resolution in the UAE: An Update

The 2016 article detailed the efforts of Dubai Police (Human Rights Department) and Dubai Municipality in addressing worker grievances, particularly regarding delayed wages.² Since then, the Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (the UAE Labour Law) and subsequent ministerial resolutions have solidified and streamlined the process, giving the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) the central role.³

1. Authority for Labour Disputes

2016 Context	Current (2025) Procedure and Authority
Dubai Police Human Rights Department's Temporary Employment Conditions Control Section handled complaints and had a "free line" and "smart app" for workers.	The primary authority is the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). MoHRE handles labour complaints for the private sector (excluding some Free Zones) through: * Toll-Free Call Center: 800 84 (Labour Claims and Advisory) or 600 590000 (General Inquiries). * MoHRE Website/App: Dedicated e-services for filing complaints, including a confidential "My Salary Complaint" option.
Goal: Build trust and prevent workers from resorting to unlawful methods (like strikes).	Goal: Resolve disputes amicably, enforce the law, and ensure swift resolution (conciliation within 14 days is the target, sometimes faster in Dubai).

2. Protection Against Delayed Wages (WPS)

The article noted that delays in giving wages were the top cause of stress, and compensation for delayed wages amounted to Dh319 million (2009-2015).⁴ This issue is now strictly managed by the Wages Protection System (WPS).⁵

• Legal Mandate: Employers must pay wages through the WPS.⁶ The salary is considered delayed if not paid within 15 days of the due date (unless the contract specifies a shorter period).⁷
• Penalties: Failure to comply with WPS within the allowed grace period subjects the company to strict penalties, including fines, warnings, suspension of new work permits, and potential referral to the Public Prosecution.⁸
• Complaint: Workers can file a confidential "My Salary Complaint" through MoHRE to report non-payment without their identity being immediately disclosed to the employer.⁹

3. Resolution Time and Trust

The article highlighted that complaints were addressed within 45 minutes of receipt and that trust had increased to 93% by 2015.¹⁰

• Current Resolution: MoHRE now has the authority to issue final and binding decisions in labour disputes where the claim value is less than AED 50,000.¹¹ This dramatically speeds up the resolution process for most workers' complaints by bypassing the lengthy court procedures.¹²
• Court Exemption: Workers are exempt from paying judicial fees for labour claims that are less than AED 100,000.¹³

4. Ongoing Awareness

The importance of awareness campaigns mentioned by Lt Colonel Al Helli and Dubai Municipality remains crucial.

• Modern Channels: Awareness and support for workers are now widely provided through MoHRE's multilingual digital platforms, smart apps, and continuous outreach initiatives by local police and government entities (like the "Worker's Welfare" initiatives often cited by Dubai Police). These campaigns continue to focus on legal rights, duties, safety, and available communication channels.¹⁴

The core message remains the same: the UAE legal system provides robust, accessible, and increasingly efficient channels for workers to claim their rights, particularly concerning timely salary payments, which has significantly reduced the need for unlawful actions.

Would you like me to look up the current MoHRE penalties for repeated salary delays under the Wages Protection System?