Domestic labour supply to expand in UAE as MOHRE signs new pacts

The supply of domestic labourers to the UAE will soon expand as the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation prepares to sign agreements with a number of countries.

Dr Omar Alnuaimi, assistant undersecretary for communication and international relations at MOHRE, said that shortly after the ministry became officially responsible for the administration of domestic labour, Minister Saqr Ghobash “oversaw the development and implementation of a strategic plan with a view to ensure quality service to our customers and consolidate the regulation of the domestic labour sector.”

The ministry met with representatives from a number of potential source countries to agree on terms for the employment of their citizens in the UAE domestic labour market, said Dr Alnuaimi.

“These countries welcomed access by their nationals to employment opportunities in the UAE, particularly in view of the added protection afforded to domestic workers under the new Domestic Labour Law and the clarity of the rights and obligations under the law of all stakeholders, including private recruitment agencies.”

The ministry did not identify which countries would be signing the labour pacts, but said “a number of bilateral agreements are due to be signed in the near future.”

Alnuaimi said it was important for the UAE to secure multiple sources of domestic labour to offer local households a broader choice of experiences and qualifications and to promote healthy competition.

The Tadbeer Centres, which will open at the end of this year to provide services related to the recruitment and deployment of domestic workers, will conduct pre-arrival interviews with domestic workers to ensure that they understand their contractual rights, offer training and education, resolve disputes between workers and employees and checking on worker housing and accommodation.

In the meantime, these services are offered by Tasheel centres in Dubai, Ajman, Um Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah, and continue to be offered by existing service centres in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in co-ordination with the Ministry of Interior pending the launch of Tadbeer.

The classification of domestic workers refers to people who are employed by households as nannies, cooks, guards, farm workers and similar occupations.