How can a labor complaint be made in the UAE?

You can file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE) if you work long hours without receiving overtime pay or if your employer has wrongfully demoted you.

How to file a labor complaint in UAE?

1. Dial the Ministry’s emergency number at 800 60.
2. Get the MOHRE app and submit a work complaint.
3. Go to www.mohre.gov.ae and click the “File a Labor Complaint” options
   If you select the second or third option, you will have to establish an account. Your passport information and work permit (labor card) number are required for this.
   An attorney from the Twa-fouq center will contact you once you make a complaint and attempt to resolve things amicably in the first 72 working hours. An employee does not charge a fee for this procedure.

What is Twa-fouq?

Twa-fouq centers are MOHRE-licensed service locations that receive labor complaints sent by either employees or employers.

The center looks into the complaints, makes recommendations to MOHRE for approval, asks it to decide how to resolve the conflict, or submits the matter to the courts. Additionally, it offers legal counsel and responds to questions about labor relations.

Procedure for filing labour complaint:

The Ministry responds to labor complaints in accordance with Article 6 of the UAE Labour Law as follows:

• The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization must be contacted for labor problems.
• The Twa-fouq department in question will contact the conflicting parties and take whatever steps are necessary to resolve things peacefully. The parties are not required to accept the settlement at this time.
• If a mutually agreeable resolution cannot be achieved, the department must forward the matter to the relevant Labour Court within two weeks of receiving the request.
• A memo outlining the issue, the arguments put out by each party, and the thoughts of the relevant labor department must be submitted with the case.
• The competent court will schedule a hearing for the claim and notify the two parties within three days of receiving the request.
• The department of labor’s representative may be called upon by the court to attend and provide an explanation of the memo’s contents. The court will subsequently render a decision on the case.

What are the filing costs for a labor case?

• Employee costs: For claims under Dh100,000, the employee is exempt from paying court costs.
• Employees must pay 5% of the claim amount, up to a maximum of Dh20,000, for claims over Dh100,000.
• The inclusion of Hindi in the court by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has improved access to justice for expats and foreign investors.

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