The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) took legal action against 22 domestic worker recruitment offices in February 2025 for breaking the law. 

According to the Ministry, the domestic worker recruitment offices have committed 37 violations against the Federal Decree-Law Concerning Domestic Workers. And the violations included not refunding recruitment fees owed to employers within the required two-week period. This period starts either when the domestic worker is returned to the recruitment office or when the worker is reported to have stopped working.

The Ministry warned domestic worker recruitment offices to follow the rules or face strict penalties, including possible license cancellation for serious violations including closure of the operations.

“We stress on the importance of domestic worker recruitment offices complying with legal regulations. We also urge our customers to avoid dealing with unlicensed domestic worker recruitment offices  or non-credible social media platforms,” the Ministry stated. 

The Ministry emphasized that its monitoring system effectively ensures recruitment offices follow the law and protect everyone's rights. It also praised compliant offices for delivering quality services to their clients.

Additionally, it also urged the employers to report any violations against such fraudulent or violating domestic worker recruitment firms, adding “For any complaints or concerns regarding recruitment offices failing to refund all or part of the recruitment fees within the legally specified timeframes, our customers, including employers and resident families, can contact us at 80040.”they engage with or file complaints against non-compliant offices via the Ministry’s digital platforms or by contacting the Labour Consultation and Claims Centre on 80084.

And also warned them against using unlicensed recruitment offices or unreliable social media platforms for domestic worker services, as it could lead to losing legal rights. “Clients’ legal rights are assured only when transacting with licensed offices that have been approved by the Ministry.”

All the licensed Domestic Worker Recruitment Offices across the UAE have been listed on the official website of the Ministry: www.mohre.gov.ae.

And the penalities for violations are:

The Federal Decree-Law No. (9) of 2022 Concerning Domestic Workers and its amendments, has laid down certain conditions for the licensing of domestic workers recruitment agencies. And if the Ministry finds any violations of the law or its regulations while handling disputes and complaints, it has the right to take necessary actions and enforce penalties as outlined in the law and its regulations. And the recruitment agencies found guilty of violations, will face penalties as outlined in the Article 17 of the law: 

#1 Anyone committing the following acts may face up to 6 months in prison, a fine between 20,000 and 100,000 dirhams, or both:

1. Submitting false information or documents to recruit a domestic worker.
2. Obstructing or threatening a judicial officer enforcing the law and its regulations.
3. Disclosing confidential information obtained while serving as a public officer, even after leaving the organisation.

#2 Anyone committing the following acts may face up to 6 months in prison, a fine between 20,000 and 100,000 dirhams, or both:

1. Providing false information or documents to recruit a domestic worker.
2. Obstructing or threatening a judicial officer enforcing the law and its regulations.
3. Disclosing confidential information obtained while working as a public officer, even after leaving the organisation.

#3 A fine ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 dirhams will be imposed on anyone who:

1. Employs a domestic worker without a valid work permit.
2. Recruits or hires a domestic worker but fails to provide employment.
3. Uses a domestic worker’s permit for purposes other than those intended.
4. Closes or stops recruitment agency operations without settling domestic workers' dues as required by law.
5. Recruits or hires a worker under 18 years of age.
6. Helps a domestic worker leave their job or provides shelter to exploit or employ them illegally.

#4 Anyone committing the following acts may face up to 1 year in prison, a fine between 200,000 and 1,000,000 dirhams, or both:

1. Mediating or temporarily employing domestic workers without a proper license.
2. Misusing authorisation or login credentials to access the Ministry's systems or allowing unauthorised access, disrupting labor relations or procedures.

#5 Recruitment agencies that violate this law or its regulations will face a fine ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 dirhams.

#6 Anyone violating the provisions of this law, its regulations, or related resolutions will be fined between 5,000 and 1,000,000 dirhams.

#7 Fines imposed under this law and its regulations will be multiplied based on the number of workers involved in the violation, up to a maximum of 10,000,000 dirhams.

#8 If an offender repeats any violation within one year of being convicted for a similar offense, the penalty will be doubled.

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In January also, the Ministry found 14 domestic worker recruitment agencies violating the law with  22 violations.