The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation revoked the licenses of two domestic worker recruitment agencies for failing to comply with the obligations.

The two agencies are Shamma Al Mahairi Domestic Workers Services Centre in Dubai and Al Barq Domestic Workers Services Centre LLC in Ajman, according to the Emirate News Agency.  The agencies failed to comply with the obligations stipulated in Federal Law 9 of 2022 on Domestic Workers and its executive regulations, as well as Ministerial Resolution 676 of 2022 on the Licensing and Regulation of Domestic Worker Recruitment Agencies.

Federal Law 9 establishes a framework for employment relationships with domestic workers, outlining the responsibilities of the parties, in a manner that ensures an equitable balance between the rights of both parties. It also maintaining a safe and healthy working environment for domestic workers in compliance with local laws and international agreements.

Ministerial Resolution 676 of 2022 concerns the licencing of recruitment agencies.

“These measures form part of the Ministry's ongoing efforts to regulate and organise the operations of domestic worker recruitment agencies to ensure that all relevant parties comply with the law," the Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"These offices were found to have committed explicit legal violations, which required revoking their licenses and asking their owners to settle the status of their workers, fulfil their obligations towards both workers and domestic workers' employers and pay any fines that were due until the date of license cancellation,” it added.

UAE’s HR Ministry also notified relevant local authorities to take the necessary actions against these agencies. It also stressed that it will take legal action against any domestic worker recruitment agency found to violate the law in accordance with the nature of the violation.