Starting from January 1, 2025, private sector employees and domestic workers in the UAE will be required to have health insurance. This means their employers must pay for their health coverage when they apply for or renew their residency permits. This new rule was announced by the UAE Cabinet.
Before this announcement, only Abu Dhabi and Dubai had laws that made it compulsory for employers to provide health insurance for their employees. Now, this rule will apply to the whole country. This move aims to ensure that all workers in the private sector have access to good healthcare.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) will run campaigns and programs to make sure everyone understands this new rule. This is the second mandatory insurance scheme for employees in the UAE. Last year, another scheme was introduced to protect workers from losing their jobs.
During the Cabinet meeting, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, mentioned that almost all workers in the country are already covered under the Workers' Protection Programme. This programme ensures that workers get paid if their employers go bankrupt.
Additionally, the validity period of Emirati passports for people aged 21 and above will be extended from five to 10 years. The Cabinet also discussed the work of the Digital Wellbeing Council, which has shut down many websites and social media accounts promoting harmful activities, like substance abuse and online scams.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the importance of families, media, and schools working together to protect children, who are the nation's most important asset.
News Source: Khaleej Times
