Daijiworld Media Network - Abu Dhabi (SS)

Abu Dhabi, May 1: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) said on Wednesday that all private-sector employers must ensure that all the employees get their wages on time via the Wages Protection System.

In an official statement, the UAE ministry announced that employers must follow the Ministerial Decree No 739 of 2016 regarding the protection of wages and the employment contracts signed by both parties as well.

The ministry further noted that those employers that have granted ‘early leave’ to their employees as a precautionary step against COVID-19, must speed up the needed documentation to register such consent, through a temporary supplementary annex to the employment contract. The supplementary form is available on the MoHRE website and smart app for employers to use.

Earlier in April, the ministry launched the early leave initiative as a response to requests by expats working in the private sectors who wish to return home. This initiative ensures that the employers book employee round-trips tickets; that the contractual relationship between them continues, with early leave being considered as unpaid leave, ensuring the application of employee rights as per the UAE labour law.

Employers must immediately update the systems approved by the ministry regarding any changes in the employment contracts agreed by both sides. This includes the temporary or permanent reduction of wages.

The ministry assured that all the formalities regarding the same would guarantee the rights of both the parties in the business relationship. It added that to maintain stability in the working relationship, employee productivity and business continuity, it is important that employees fulfill their legal obligations to their employees, especially those related to remuneration.