UAE employers who delay wages will have to pay Dh20,000 fine

Private sector employers delaying wages for their workers will be fined Dh20,000 under a more stringent penalty system to be enforced by the Ministry of Labour on August 1 with the aim of ending violations in the job market.

The new system involves 21 tougher fines covering various job offences in the private sector such as wage delays, cheating Emiratization job rules, providing improper housing for workers and forcing them to pay for their labor permits.

The Dubai-based Arabic language daily, which published the new rules, said they involved increased fines for all offences but did not specify the previous fines.

“Employers offending the wage system will be fined Dh20,000 and those found cheating the Emiratization job regulations will also be fined Dh20,000,” it said.

The new system imposes Dh5,000 on employers delaying even one worker’s salary for two months and a maximum Dh50,000 if the delay affects more than one worker.

Employers found to be providing housing which violates locally-approved criteria will be fined Dh20,000 while those who do not employ workers sponsored by them two months after the issuance of the labour card will pay the same fine.

As for hiring fees, the Ministry said it would impose a fine of Dh20,000 on employers found to have deducted those fees from their workers’ wage.

Companies which do not abide by appointments set by the Ministry to discuss labour disputes will also be fined Dh20,000.

Companies caught violating the noon work ban during summer will be fined Dh15,000 while a Dh20,000 penalty has been specified for those found to have submitted incorrect data to the Ministry.

“If a company is found not participating in the wage system it will be fined Dh10,000 while the same fine will be imposed on a company which does not take adequate measures to ensure the safety of its workers.”