UAE Amends Law to Strengthen Domestic Workers' Rights and Streamline Dispute Resolution

The UAE Government has issued a new Federal Decree-Law amending specific provisions of the Federal Decree-Law concerning domestic workers.

These amendments are designed to enhance the rights of all parties involved in employment relationships and to expedite the resolution of disputes.

A significant change under the new law is the transfer of jurisdiction for domestic worker-related disputes from the Court of Appeal to the Court of First Instance. Effective immediately, the Courts of Appeal are instructed to transfer all pending cases to the Court of First Instance without any additional fees, except for those cases already decided or awaiting judgment.

The decree also empowers the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation to mediate disputes between employers, domestic workers, and recruitment agencies. If an amicable settlement cannot be reached, the Ministry is required to refer the case to the Court of First Instance, along with a summary of the dispute and its recommendations.

For disputes involving claims up to AED 50,000, or cases where a party fails to comply with a prior settlement, the Ministry has the authority to issue binding decisions that can be enforced as court orders. Parties have 15 working days to contest the Ministry's decision in the Court of First Instance, whose ruling in such matters will be final.

These legal amendments reflect the UAE's commitment to protecting domestic workers' rights and ensuring that disputes are resolved swiftly and fairly.

News Source: Emirates News Agency