Ministry details cases that allows a domestic worker in UAE to work for new employer

Abdul Rahman Saeed, Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has set three cases in which a domestic worker can work for a new employer with the ministry’s approval after submitting an application to this effect through the approved channels.

These cases include firstly the expiry of the domestic worker’s employment contract, secondly the employer’s failure to fulfil his obligations towards the domestic worker during the term of the contract as proved by the courts of law and thirdly the employer’s consent for the domestic worker to work for another employer during the term of the contract, provided that such consent is in writing.

A domestic worker may leave work in two specific cases, while retaining his rights, two weeks after notifying the ministry of any of these cases if the employer has failed to address the domestic worker’s reasons for leaving work, the MoHRE said.

These cases include firstly reducing his wage below the level agreed upon and stated in the employment contract and secondly the employer’s failure to fulfill his obligations according to the employment contract, it added.

The MoHRE explained that a domestic worker might leave work without warning if the employer or his representative has beaten him, has humiliated him or has sexually assaulted him.

In all cases, a domestic worker must inform the competent authorities immediately after the assault and notify the MoHRE within three days from the date of quitting work, it said.

For this purpose, a domestic worker must return to the domestic worker recruitment office that brought him into the country and stay there or name another place to stay in after notifying the MoHRE accordingly, it added.