New regulations concerning disputes involving domestic workers, their employers, and recruitment agencies have been announced by UAE authorities on Tuesday. These regulations are outlined in a new federal decree law, which modifies specific sections of the country's domestic workers law. According to the new policy, all domestic worker disputes will be addressed at the Court of First Instance, rather than the Court of Appeal, as a final option. A case will only be brought before the court if an amicable settlement has not been achieved through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre).
The new regulations, designed to expedite the resolution of disputes, align with the broader changes to the labor law. The ministry is authorized to handle domestic worker disputes if the total claim amount does not exceed Dh50,000 or if the dispute pertains to non-compliance with a previous decision issued by Mohre. If an amicable settlement is not reached within a specified period, Mohre is required to refer the dispute to the Court of First Instance.
Any party involved in the dispute may initiate a lawsuit with the Court of First Instance within 15 working days of receiving notification to challenge the ministry's decision. The decision of the Court of First Instance in such cases is final, and filing a lawsuit will halt the enforcement of the Ministry's decision.
