What do you owe a domestic worker who is injured while working for you?

You pay. The Domestic Workers Law makes the employer pay the worker’s medical treatment and the work injury compensation set by the labour law.¹

What must you pay if your domestic worker is hurt at work?

Two things. First, the cost of medical treatment, under the health system in force, or health insurance in line with UAE law. Second, the compensation for work injuries and occupational diseases set by Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021 and its resolutions. The duty to compensate ends only if an insurance company pays it.¹

Check whether any insurance you hold for your worker pays work injury compensation, and keep the policy.

How much is the compensation?

The labour law amounts apply. A death pays 24 months of basic wage to the family. Permanent total disability pays 24 months of basic wage. Permanent partial disability pays the disability percentage times 24 months of basic wage. Each is at least AED 18,000 and at most AED 200,000.² The percentages are in the schedules to Cabinet Resolution 33 of 2022.³

Use the work injury compensation calculator with the worker’s basic monthly wage.

Does the contract end after a serious injury?

It ends if the worker dies, or becomes disabled during and because of work. A specialised medical commission confirms the disability and its percentage. The employer pays to send the disabled worker, or the worker’s body, home.¹

Is a domestic worker paid sick leave?

Up to 30 days a year, when a state-approved health authority’s medical report shows the need: the first 15 days on full pay and the next 15 on half pay. There is no paid sick leave for an illness caused by the worker’s own misconduct.¹ Work injury pay follows the injury rules above.

What happens if the employer does not pay?

The executive regulation fines an employer AED 500 to AED 5,000 per case where the worker’s treatment costs are not borne or the work injury compensation is not paid.⁴

How does a domestic worker claim?

Through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). If the worker and employer cannot settle, either takes the dispute to MOHRE, which tries to settle it and decides it itself when the claim is AED 50,000 or less. Otherwise MOHRE refers it to the Court of First Instance with a memo and its recommendation.¹

A lawsuit under the law cannot be heard more than 3 months after the work relationship ends. A worker’s lawsuit is free of court fees at every stage and is heard urgently.¹

Complain to MOHRE before the worker leaves the job or the country. See where to complain.

The small print

The employer’s duties are Article 11(5) and 11(9), the end of the contract Article 19(1)(b), sick leave Article 10(6) and 10(7), disputes Article 23 and lawsuits Article 26 of Federal Decree-Law 9 of 2022 on Domestic Workers.¹ The fine is item 8 of the employer violations in Schedule 2 to Cabinet Resolution 106 of 2022.⁴ Compensation follows Article 37 of Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021⁵ and Cabinet Resolution 33 of 2022.³ The English texts are translations; the Arabic prevails.