The United Arab Emirates has published a comprehensive list of six specific actions that employers are legally prohibited from taking against domestic workers, under federal legislation designed to protect this vulnerable labour group. The list, released on an official UAE government platform, clarifies the boundaries of employer conduct and strengthens the legal framework for household staff.
Legal Basis and Scope of the Prohibition
The prohibitions are grounded in Federal Decree Law No. 21 of 2023, which amends earlier provisions under Federal Decree Law No. 9 of 2022 concerning domestic workers. According to the UAE government, the law "regulates the recruitment and employment of domestic workers in the UAE" and "defines the responsibilities of both parties in a balanced manner, safeguards their rights and obligations, and ensures a suitable working environment in line with national legislation and international conventions ratified by the UAE."
The law applies to a broad category of workers employed within private households, including cleaners, cooks, nannies, drivers, and caregivers. By explicitly naming prohibited conduct, the legislation gives domestic workers a clearer legal basis on which to raise complaints or seek protection.
The Six Explicitly Prohibited Acts
The UAE government has outlined the following acts as strictly prohibited under the law:
- Discrimination based on race, colour, gender, religion, nationality or disability
- Harassment, whether verbal or physical
- Forced labour
- Exposure to physical harm
- Assignment of tasks that are not covered under the contract
- Employing the worker in jobs outside the scope of the law without approval from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE)
The requirement for MoHRE approval before a worker can be assigned duties outside the law's scope is particularly notable, as it creates an administrative checkpoint that employers must pass before expanding a worker's responsibilities beyond what was originally agreed.
Regional Context and Related Labour Rules
The UAE's domestic worker legislation places it among the Gulf states that have moved to formalise protections for household staff, a segment of the workforce that has historically operated with limited legal recourse in many countries across the region.
In a related development, the UAE government has also clarified that the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation does not issue work permits to juveniles below 15 years, whether they are UAE nationals or expatriate residents. This aligns with the country's broader labour regulations and reinforces the legal safeguards for vulnerable workers.
