Employer and Worker Duties in UAE Labour Law: Articles 13 to 16 Explained in Plain English

“Not withhold the official documents of the Worker or force him to leave the State upon the end of the labour relation.”Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 13(2)

In plain English

The employer must:

1. Keep workers’ files and records, for at least 2 years after each worker leaves.
2. Not keep the worker’s passport or other official documents, and not force them to leave the UAE when the job ends.
3. Set work regulations: instructions, penalties, promotions and bonuses.
4. Provide housing: suitable licensed accommodation, a housing allowance, or housing included in the wage.
5. Invest in training and skills.
6. Prevent work injuries and illness, with safety training and regular checks.
7. Make sure workers know their rights and duties.
8. Pay for medical care as the law in force requires.
9. Pay the insurances, subscriptions and guarantees the law requires.
10. Not let the worker work for others, except as the law allows.
11. Give an experience certificate at no cost on request at the end of the contract, with the dates, job, last wage and reason the contract ended, and nothing that harms the worker’s reputation.
12. Pay the cost of returning the worker to where they were recruited from, or another agreed place. Not if the worker joins another employer, or if the contract ended because of the worker; then the worker pays.
13. Provide a safe and suitable work environment.
14. Meet any other duty in the law, the Regulation or Cabinet resolutions.

Article 13 is the core list of employer obligations, but item 14 points to more elsewhere in the law: wages in Articles 22 to 27, leave in Articles 29 to 35 and safety in Articles 36 to 41.

Example

Rahul resigns properly at the end of his contract and asks for an experience certificate. His employer must give it at no cost, stating his dates, job title, last wage and reason for leaving, without negative remarks.

“establishments that employ (50) or more workers, shall set regulations to organize the work”Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, Article 14

In plain English

A company with 50 or more workers must have written regulations covering work instructions, penalties, promotions and bonuses, and how employment ends. They must not contradict the law and must include:

• Penalties: the penalties that can be imposed and the conditions for imposing them.
• Work instructions: daily hours, weekend days, public holidays, and precautions against work injuries and fire.
• Promotions and bonuses: the standards used.

The employer must tell workers about these rules, in a language they understand.

Example

A logistics company with 120 staff issues a handbook in Arabic, English and Hindi covering shift hours, the penalty list, fire precautions and how promotions are decided. That meets Article 14.

“Sexual harassment, bullying, or any verbal, physical or psychological violence against the Worker by the Employer, his superiors, colleagues, or co-workers shall be prohibited.”Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 14(2)

In plain English

• An employer may not force or threaten anyone to work, or to do work against their will.
• Sexual harassment, bullying and verbal, physical or psychological violence are banned, whoever does it: the employer, a manager or a colleague.

Example

A supervisor repeatedly humiliates a junior employee in front of the team. That is psychological violence and bullying under Article 14, even though the supervisor is not the business owner.

“within a period not exceeding ten (10) days as of the date of death or as of the date of the Employer’s knowledge of the Worker’s death.”Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 15(1)

In plain English

• The employer must hand the worker’s family all wages, other dues and the end-of-service gratuity within 10 days of the death, or of learning about it.
• A worker can name a family member in writing to receive these amounts.
• If the family asks, the employer pays all costs of preparing and transporting the body to the home country or place of residence.
• MOHRE can hold the money if it cannot be handed to the family.
• Ministerial Resolution No. 720 of 2023 enforces the 10 days: an employer that misses the deadline must deposit the dues with MOHRE, and MOHRE may suspend the company’s file until it shows proof of payment.

Example

A worker dies suddenly. His wife asks for his body to be returned home. The employer must cover the repatriation and pay her his salary, leave pay and gratuity within 10 days.

“Evacuate the accommodation provided thereto by the Employer, within a period not exceeding thirty (30) days as of the date of the end of his service”Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 16(10)

In plain English

The worker must:

1. Do the work personally, under the employer’s direction, and not hand it to someone else.
2. Behave properly and act with honesty and integrity.
3. Look after the employer’s tools and equipment.
4. Keep business information confidential, not reveal trade secrets, and return company property when leaving.
5. Not keep original documents about trade secrets without permission.
6. Follow health and safety instructions.
7. Work the agreed days and hours and communicate effectively.
8. Keep developing their skills.
9. Not work for others in breach of the law.
10. Leave employer-provided housing within 30 days of the job ending, or stay longer only with the employer’s approval, paying the cost or as agreed in writing.
11. Meet any other duty the law sets.

Example

Joseph’s contract ends on 31 May and he lives in company accommodation. He has until 30 June to move out. If he needs longer, he can agree in writing to pay rent for the extra time.