The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has published a comprehensive clarification on refund regulations of domestic worker recruitment charges to raise transparency and safeguard employers’ interests. Under the new directive, employers can request full or partial refund of fees if recruitment terms are not satisfied within recommended timeframes.
A refund in full is available where the domestic worker does not turn up within the agreed time or is medically unfit or unqualified within a probation period. In the meantime, partial refunds are available where the worker leaves voluntarily or for reasons of unforeseen circumstances not due to the employer. These practices are part of continued efforts to regulate the recruitment of domestic workers and ensure good practices.
MoHRE has also made it clear that recruitment agencies will have to comply with the policy and have proper documentation in place to avoid fines. Employers are urged to check contracts and ensure all terms are documented in writing to make claims smoother, if required.
This step enhances accountability in the recruitment process of domestic workers and gives employers more confidence and legal certainty, as part of the UAE’s wider labour reforms.
