Families with domestic workers urged to use new payment system

The wage protection system will be extended to cover domestic staff

In March 2021, the country's labour ministry said it would close all of the privately-run recruitment agencies that hire and supply domestic workers to tackle abuse in the industry. Instead, government-run centres will handle all applications and hiring for families. Pawan Singh / The National

Officials said there would be an exception for agencies based in the country's economic freezones, which have their own rules and regulators. It was not clear if there are many maid agencies based there, nor whether those facing closure could move to a freezone. Pawan Singh / The National

A nanny looks after a girl as she plays in a park in Dubai. In the Gulf, the low cost of labour and the financial need for both parents to work full-time mean live-in maids and nannies are very common. Jaime Puebla / The National

Nannies take a first aid in Dubai that focused on children and babies. Jeff Topping / The National

Two nannies accompany a family at Dubai Mall. It is estimated that at least tens of thousands of people in the UAE are employed as domestic workers. Pawan Singh / The National

The UAE will introduce an optional online salary payment system for domestic workers from Thursday, January 27 as part of efforts to safeguard their employment rights.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation is encouraging families to adopt the Wage Protection System, which is widely used in the construction sector and other industries, to pay staff such as maids and nannies.

Employers can pay through bank transfers, exchange offices, or other financial institutions authorised by the UAE Central Bank.

The scheme aims to protect the rights of both domestic helpers and employers, the ministry said.

“It helps employers prove that wage payments were made on time,” said Khalil Khoury, assistant undersecretary for domestic worker affairs at the ministry.

“It also ensures domestic helpers receive their salaries on time every month.”

He said the system would help cement a stable work relationship between domestic staff and their employers.

The scheme applies to all domestic working professions covered by law, including housemaids, nannies, housekeepers, cooks, family drivers, gardeners and private teachers.

“It provides an easier, faster and digitally advanced channel to pay salaries,” said Mr Khalil.

Employers can also use smart applications provided by their banks to pay salaries of domestic workers.

The Wage Protection System was first introduced in 2009 for the use of private companies.

It is now being extended for the use of families who also serve as employers of domestic staff.

“Since being launched 13 years ago, WPS has helped maintain a stable and transparent work relationship between workers and employers in the private sector,” said Mr Khalil.

It is the latest drive by UAE authorities to support domestic workers.

In January, 2021, the ministry announced plans to shut all non-government maid-hiring agencies by March to better protect the rights of workers and employers.

It said citizens and residents would have to hire domestic workers from Tadbeer, a network of service centres.

Tadbeer recruitment offices were set up by the ministry in 2018. There are 54 nationwide.