In the UAE, employees enjoy a diverse range of employment options and work types, fostering flexibility and adaptability in the job market. There are six distinct work patterns that allow both employers and employees to choose the contractual arrangement that best suits their needs. These patterns not only facilitate ease of doing business and market flexibility but also enhance productivity while ensuring compliance with legal regulations. Moreover, these arrangements offer various financial benefits to workers, providing stability through multiple income streams. These work patterns are based on the nature of the contract between the employer and the employee and are accessible through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation's (MoHRE) systems. Each of these six patterns is governed by specific legal regulations designed to protect the rights of both employers and employees.
Here are the six work patterns in the UAE:
Temporary Work: This involves an employee working on a specific assignment, with the contract ending upon completion. This type of job typically has a predetermined duration, often linked to a specific task or project.
Part-time Work: This involves working for one or more employers for a certain number of hours or days each week. Companies can hire employees on a part-time basis through a part-time contract structure, allowing for less than a standard full-time workweek. Citizens or expats residing in the UAE with a valid visa and aged 18 or older can apply for a part-time job permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Part-time employees can take on several part-time jobs without the approval of the original or other secondary employers, but they must obtain a part-time permit from MoHRE.
Full-time Work: This involves working for one employer throughout the regular work hours on all working days. In the UAE, a full-time labor contract is a formal agreement that establishes a long-term employment relationship between an employer and an employee. This contract outlines various aspects of the employment, including job responsibilities, working hours, salary, benefits, and termination procedures. It is designed for employees who are required to work a specified number of hours each week or month and are entitled to regular salaries, bonuses, and additional benefits. Once signed, this contract is legally binding in accordance with UAE labor laws.
Flexible Work: This pattern allows work hours or days to vary based on the employer's needs, the nature of the work, and the worker's life circumstances. Flexible work contracts give employees a degree of flexibility in their working hours, which can adjust based on workload and various economic and operational factors. With flexible work arrangements, employees can have varying work hours and days depending on job requirements and conditions. They may also combine different work models, provided they do not exceed the maximum allowable working hours set by UAE law, which is 48 hours per week.
Job Sharing: In this model, duties are divided among several workers to complete pre-agreed tasks, with responsibilities shared between employees. This is also reflected in the salary slips. The treatment of the employees complies with the regulations governing part-time employment. Employees considering this work arrangement should understand that it is not an option for a full-time employee. This strategy works well for individuals who desire to hold more of a contractual job and work for two or more separate businesses.
Remote Work: Workers perform their jobs remotely, either entirely or partially, with electronic communication replacing physical presence at the workplace.
Salary Payment: The UAE government's Wage Protection System (WPS) aims to provide a safe, secure, and efficient mechanism to streamline the timely payment of wages to employees by their employers. All employers registered with MoHRE must subscribe to the WPS and pay the wages to their employees through it, as per the due dates. Under this system, salaries of employees will be transferred to their accounts in banks or financial institutions, which are authorized by the Central Bank of the UAE to provide the service. MoHRE does not process any transactions or deal with the owners of the companies that are not registered with the WPS until they register in the system. Payment can be in Emirati dirham or in any other currency, if it is agreed upon between both parties in the employment contract. The government penalizes companies for failing to pay wages on the due dates.
When to Pay Salaries: The employee's wages are due on the first day of the month following the end of the period specified in the employment contract. If no period is specified, the employee must be paid at least once a month. The employer is in default of paying the wage if he does not pay it within the first 15 days after the due date, unless a shorter period has been agreed in the employment contract.
Minimum Wages in UAE: There is no minimum salary stipulated in the UAE Labour Law. However, it broadly mentions that salaries must cover basic needs of the employees.
