The inspection team at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) reported outstanding performance in 2023, carrying out more than 430,000 inspection visits and organising awareness programmes about labour market legislation for workers and employers.

This resulted in detecting over 75,000 violations and raising awareness among more than 2 million workers and over 9,000 employers, based on the data released by MoHRE on its Labour Market Observatory.

In a statement, the Ministry applauded “the level of commitment with labour market legislation among the vast majority of private-sector companies, which underlines the awareness among employers regarding the impact these laws have on stabilising work relations and increasing productivity.”

The MoHRE explained that digital technological advancements are among its Inspection Sector’s noteworthy achievements, “as they ensure efficiency, excellence, objectivity, and integrity in its work, which enhances its ability to enhance regulation and address violations and harmful practices in the labour market.”

The MoHRE Smart Inspection System is the first of its kind in the region and one of the key tools introduced by the Inspection Sector to enhance its role in protecting the community.  the electronic inspection devices help ensure speed and accuracy in inspection procedures. In parallel with these efforts, the Ministry carries out awareness programmes and initiatives for both parties to the work relationship.

The inspection and awareness system forms part of the MoHRE’s integrated structure, used to implement its labour market policies, regulate the labour market, and promote work ethic, principles, while ensuring compliance with legislation among employers and workers, and boosting efficiency, competitiveness, and productivity in the UAE labour market.

Inspection and monitoring

The Labour Market Observatory on MoHRE website showed a total of more than 75,000 violations reported last year, notably.

• 1,077 companies were reported since mid-2022 for violating Emiratisation decisions and policies, including engaging in Fake Emiratisation practices and circumventing Emiratisation targets.
• Fifty-five cases of companies recruiting workers without a license issued by MoHRE in 2023 were also detected
• Five social media accounts that were shut down in coordination with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).
• 509 companies were referred to the Public Prosecution for not practicing the activity they were licensed to do and closing down without settling the status of their workers.
• 185 cases were flagged for non-compliance with the Midday Break
• 30 cases were reported for failing to report work injuries, occupational diseases, or death of a worker to the Ministry
• three cases of unlawfully passing on recruitment expenses to workers, among other violations.
• 33,000 cases of non-compliance with paying due wages to workers through the Wage Protection System
• 1,200 cases of providing false documents or data to the Ministry to obtain a service
• 76 cases of worker accommodation failing to comply with standards.

MoHRE received approximately 1,500 complaints through the official channels provided to the community to enhance their supervisory role in the labour market, enabling them to report any violations to allow the inspection teams to take the necessary measures, and impose penalties.

As for awareness and guidance efforts implemented in 2023, more than 49,000 orientation workshops were conducted in 15 different languages that benefitted over 2 million workers, including nearly 580,000 who opted for self-guidance. Meanwhile, more than 9,000 employers attended 97 workshops organised to raise awareness about the laws and ministerial decisions regulating the labour market.