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MOHRE: Services, Complaints & Employer Obligations in UAE
MOHRE, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, is the federal authority that regulates employment in the UAE's private sector. Every employer operating on the mainland interacts with MOHRE at some point: registering an establishment, issuing work permits, submitting employment contracts, paying salaries through the Wage Protection System, and meeting Emiratisation targets. The ministry's reach covers the full employment lifecycle, from the moment a company decides to hire its first employee to the final settlement when that employee leaves.
Despite how central MOHRE is to running a compliant business, many employers only engage with the ministry reactively, when a fine arrives, an employee files a complaint, or a work permit renewal is overdue. This guide lays out the key MOHRE services employers should know, how the complaint and dispute resolution process works, what obligations you are expected to meet, and what happens when you fall short. For the full employment law context, see the UAE Labour Law: The Complete Employer Guide.
What MOHRE Does (and Why It Matters to Employers)
MOHRE regulates private-sector employment under Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021, which came into effect in February 2022 and replaced the 1980 labour law. The law applies to all private-sector employees regardless of nationality. MOHRE's core functions include issuing and managing work permits, registering employment contracts, monitoring salary payments through WPS, resolving labour disputes, conducting workplace inspections, and enforcing Emiratisation targets.
One important distinction: MOHRE covers mainland employers. If your company operates in a free zone, your employees fall under that free zone's authority instead. Complaints, permits, and disputes are handled by the free zone, not MOHRE. That said, federal worker protections increasingly apply across both. For day-to-day interactions, MOHRE offers several digital channels: the eServices portal for work permits and contract management, the MOHRE mobile app (iOS and Android) for remote approvals and complaint tracking, WhatsApp support at 600590000, and the Labour Claims and Advisory hotline at 80084 (toll-free, available in 20 languages).
Key MOHRE Services for Employers
These are the services you will interact with most frequently as a private-sector employer.
Most of these services can be handled through the eServices portal or the MOHRE mobile app without visiting a service centre. The app also supports electronic signatures, queue booking, and real-time request tracking.
How the MOHRE Complaint Process Works
MOHRE conducts inspections at scale. In H1 2025 alone, the ministry carried out 285,000 inspections and uncovered 5,400 violations. The full-year figure for 2024 was 688,000 inspections. These are not rare events.
What Triggers an Inspection
Routine compliance audits, employee complaints, wage non-compliance reports flagged through WPS, labour accommodation concerns, Emiratisation target verification, and sector-wide enforcement campaigns.
What Inspectors Check
• Employment contracts: valid, written, and registered with MOHRE
• WPS registration: active enrolment and up-to-date salary payment records
• Payslip accuracy: basic salary, allowances, and deductions clearly shown each cycle
• Labour accommodation: minimum space, ventilation, and sanitation standards where applicable
• Emiratisation compliance: hiring targets met with supporting documentation
• Working hours: max 5 consecutive hours without a 1-hour break; max 2 hours overtime per day
• Leave entitlements: minimum 30 calendar days of annual leave honoured per employee
Consequences of Violations
If an inspection uncovers non-compliance, MOHRE follows an escalation path depending on severity:
• Written warning: Issued with a correction period, typically 2 weeks to 1 month
• Work permit suspension: MOHRE blocks the company from issuing new work permits
• Visa freeze: All visa applications for the company are put on hold
• Licence action: Suspension or cancellation of the business licence
• Legal referral: Serious violations are forwarded to the Public Prosecution
MOHRE Fines: What Non-Compliance Costs
Penalties escalated significantly under the August 2024 amendments to Federal Decree-Law 33/2021. Wage-related fines, for example, jumped from AED 5,000 to 100,000 to a range of AED 100,000 to 1,000,000.
Penalties increase for repeated violations, large-scale non-compliance (multiple employees affected), and cases where the employer refuses to comply after receiving a correction notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How do I register my company with MOHRE?
Apply for an Establishment Card through the MOHRE eServices portal. You will need your business licence, Emirates ID (for UAE nationals) or residence visa with unified number (for expatriates), and details of the business owner and authorised signatory. The card must be obtained before you can issue any work permits.
Q2. What happens if an employee files a complaint against my company?
MOHRE contacts both parties within the 14-day resolution window. Most complaints are resolved through mediation. If no agreement is reached, the case is either decided by MOHRE (for claims up to AED 50,000) or referred to Labour Court. You may also be required to continue paying the employee's salary for up to 2 months during the dispute.
Q3. How much are Emiratisation fines?
For 2025, the fine is AED 108,000 per unfilled position. For 2026, it rises to AED 120,000 per position. Fines are assessed based on whether you met the December 31 deadline for each year and collected in January of the following year.
Q4. Can MOHRE close my business for violations?
In severe cases, yes. MOHRE can suspend your establishment card, freeze work permits, suspend your business licence, and refer the matter to Public Prosecution. Wage non-payment cases can now attract fines up to AED 1,000,000 under the August 2024 amendments.
Q5. How long does an employee have to file a complaint?
Two years from the date the issue occurred. This was extended under the August 2024 amendments to Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021.
Stay on the Right Side of MOHRE Requirements
Staying compliant with MOHRE is easier when your payroll process is already built for it. Zoho Payroll processes salary through WPS-compliant channels, stores employee contracts and work permits in one place, and generates payslips that break down every dirham. If an inspection comes, the records are already there.
The free online payslip generator gives employees a transparent breakdown of basic salary, allowances, and deductions every cycle.
Start your free trial to set up payroll that is ready for MOHRE from day one.