If you’ve ever welcomed a domestic worker into your home—or stepped into that role yourself—you already know how much it shapes daily life in the UAE. Domestic workers don’t just clean, cook, or care for kids; they help build the foundation of our homes and bring stability to so many families. That’s why it’s so important, for both employers and workers, to know their rights and responsibilities clearly.
But let’s be honest: sometimes the topic of “rights” can sound distant or full of formal jargon. Instead, let’s break it down into simple, practical advice anyone can relate to—because everyone deserves to be respected, safe, and treated fairly at work and at home.
Who Counts as a Domestic Worker?
In the UAE, domestic workers include housemaids, nannies, cooks, private drivers, gardeners, nurses, and others who provide personal support inside a private household. All of these roles are protected by national laws—no matter where someone is from or what language they speak.
The Importance of a Written Contract
Every proper work relationship starts with a contract—a real, written agreement both sides understand. Here’s why it matters:
- For workers: The contract lays out job duties, pay, work hours, and days off. If ever things go wrong, your contract is your safety net.
- For employers: Having everything on paper avoids confusion, protects your household, and ensures all rules are followed.
The UAE says that every domestic worker’s contract must be registered with the MoHRE. It should be in a language the worker understands—don’t let anyone rush or skip this step.
Fair Working Hours and Rest
No one can do their best when tired or overworked. UAE law says:
- Domestic workers cannot work over a 12-hour workday. Domestic workers are entitled to at least 8 hours of consecutive hours of rest. They get one full day rest each week at pay for a one-time recharge of energy.
- Every week, there should be one full, paid day off to rest and recharge.
- Workers receive 30 days of paid annual leave, plus round-trip tickets home every two years.
- If a domestic worker is sick, they’re entitled to up to 30 days of sick leave per year (15 days full pay, next 15 days half pay).
It’s essential to plan leave schedules together to meet everyone’s needs. Respecting each other’s downtime keeps your home running smoothly.
Wages, Payment, and Deductions—Making Sense of the Fine Print
Money can be a sensitive topic, but the rules are clear for everyone’s protection:
- Salaries must always be paid in UAE dirhams, on time. Late payments or wage “withholding” by an employer isn’t allowed.
- No recruitment or visa costs should ever fall on the domestic worker. These are employer responsibilities.
- Any legal deduction from pay (like damages or court judgments) should be agreed upon by both parties and must never exceed 25% of monthly wages.
- Keeping a written record or payslip for each payment is a simple way to avoid future disputes.
A Safe and Respectful Workplace
Domestic workers deserve to be safe and respected at all time. Legal requirements of the employer to ensure safety in employment in the UAE include:
- They must provide accommodation, meals, clean drinking water, and clothing at the expense of the employer.
- They must provide for medical insurance and care at the expense of the employer. The employer must arrange for medical insurance and care.
- All personal documents (passport, etc.) like the worker’s passport ‘must’ belong to the worker; employers must never ‘keep’ them.
- Workers should be able to contact family and friends, and enjoy personal rest and privacy.
- Mistreatment, discrimination and any form of harassment is illegal, and can carry significant fines or sanctions.
Responsibilities Go Both Ways
Here’s what helps create a happy and fair home, beyond the law:
- Employers should treat workers with dignity and, in addition to treating workers with dignity, they must respect the employment contract as well as the rights of the employee to rest, privacy, and fair wages. Final payments of wound up service should be credited to the worker within 10 days.
- Domestic workers should provide the duties that they contracted for, observe the customs of the household, and preserve the property. I would expect both parties to be honest and clear in their communication and in their expectations and understandings from the beginning.
- Job Changes, Probation and Ending Employment
- Probation Periods can be a maximum of 6 months. Either party can end the contract with reasonable notice.
- Domestic workers should be able to change jobs at the conclusion of their contract, but there can be some exceptions where the worker can end their contract early (for instance, family abuse or non-payment of wages).
- At the end of the contract, the employer must credit the end of service benefits amounting to 14 days wages for every year of service.
- If there’s ever a disagreement, MoHRE is the first line of support—workers can contact the ministry without fear, and there are no court fees for such cases.
When Problems Happen: Resolving Disputes
First, try open, honest communication. If that isn’t successful, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation can step in and assist both workers and employers. Embassies and community groups can also offer advice and support and help both workers who are a long way from home.
Building a Home Built on Trust
Having a fair workplace is more than just meeting legal requirements. A fair workplace is really about people – employers and workers – showing respect and concern for one another on a daily basis. Understanding the rights of a domestic worker is not just for you to avoid problems, it is for you to create a happier, healthier and more hospitable home for everybody involved.
If you are a domestic worker or an employer, constantly seek answers, remain curious, and treat each other with dignity, and you, and people at home, will prosper in the UAE.
