Labour Migration

The UAE adopted Cabinet Resolution No. 22 of 2019 to supplement Federal Law No. 10 of 2017, establishing more protection for domestic workers by establishing their right to terminate their employment in the case of sexual harassment or physical or verbal abuse by the employer or if the employer fails to meet contractual obligations. Thus, the law protected domestic workers’ right to retain their personal documents receive mandatory time off, and have access to avenues of investigation and prosecution of contractual violations by employers or recruitment agencies.

The Minister of Health issued decision No. 27 suspending for 3 months starting April 9, 2020 the general medical consultation fee of BHD 7, paid by non-Bahrainis in health institutions affiliated to the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health also committed to providing free medical and health care services for Coronavirus testing, quarantine and treatment to all alike and for free in preventive quarantine centres and isolation and treatment centres for COVID-19.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) launched the “Early Leave” initiative in coordination with the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Civil Aviation Authority and the National Emergency and Disaster Management Authority to enable foreign workers in the private sector residing in the UAE who wish to return to their home countries during the COVID-19 lockdown/precautionary measures period to do so by bringing forward the date of their annual leave or by agreeing with their employer to take unpaid leave.

In January 2020, the Philippine government imposed a total ban on sending Filipino workers to Kuwait after the death of an overseas Filipino worker in Kuwait. This ban was lifted in February, accompanied by the First Joint Committee Meeting on the 2018 Philippines-Kuwait Agreement on the Deployment of Domestic Workers. During the meeting, officials discussed several protection measures for Filipino domestic workers that are to be institutionalized.

As part of the statistical documentation, an information system dedicated to the management of labour migration was set up in 2020. At the end of February 2022, Algeria registered 20,600 foreign workers.

National Minimum Wage applying to all workers, of all nationalities, in all sectors, including domestic workers.

Employees are no longer required to provide a no objection certificate in order to change jobs but in tandem with law 18 of 2020.