Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - United Arab Emirates (Ratification: 1982)

Article 3(1) and (2) of the Convention. Additional duties entrusted to labour inspectors related to immigration. In reply to the Committee’s previous comment, the Government indicates in its report that through the creation of Guidance Centres, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation strives to build a comprehensive system for protecting workers’ rights and ensuring the stability of the labour market. It also reports that: (i) from 2019 until the end of 2022, more than 4.7 million workers had availed themselves of these Centres; (ii) through these Centres, awareness materials on laws and ministerial resolutions have been produced and disseminated in order to raise the level of workers’ legal literacy with respect to rights and obligations in employment (in 2022, 1,936,857 workers received guidance); (iii) the Ministry prepares and publishes awareness booklets on the protection of workers, including on knowledge in counteracting forced labour; and (iv) the self-instruction initiative through the use of apps has been launched. The apps are tools available to all workers in the United Arab Emirates and supplement the workshops on legal awareness.

With regard to joint inspections, the Government reports about the cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Dubai Health Authority, the Roads and Transport Authority and the Supreme Council of Energy. In 2022, 714 joint inspections were conducted involving five governmental bodies to ascertain whether establishments were compliant with working environment requirements. While noting this information and with reference to its comment under the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the joint initiatives undertaken with the Ministry of the Interior with regard to suspected cases of forced labour or human trafficking.

The Committee further notes that, in its previous comment, it requested the Government to provide detailed information on the number of requests made to change the legal status of migrant workers under the “Protect Yourself by Changing your Legal Status” initiative and to indicate the number of requests approved. Noting the absence of information in this regard, the Committee requests the Government to indicate if such initiative is still in place and if so, to indicate the number of requests submitted and approved, the number of requests rejected, and the reasons for any such rejections.

Articles, 13, 14 and 21(g). Activities of the labour inspectorate in the area of occupational safety and health (OSH). Notification of cases of occupational disease to the labour inspectorate. Availability of statistics on occupational diseases. In reply to the Committee’s previous comment, the Government indicates that the national work injury system was launched as part of the inspection system to record and keep track of work injuries throughout the country. It is a system for recording data and information concerning injured workers registered with the State health authorities, such as the Ministry of Health and Prevention and other local health authorities. These data and information are used to analyse and develop indicators to target establishments and economic sectors in which high injury rates have occurred. This is achieved both through inspection visits and cooperation with the authorities concerned with monitoring OSH requirements at the local level in order to reduce the rate of work-related injuries. The Government indicates that in 2022, 11,959 injuries registered by health authorities nationwide were received and recorded. The Government further indicates that in 2022 fines for a total of 170,000 UAE dirhams (approx. US$46,200) were issued for failure of the employer to notify the inspectorate of occupational injuries and diseases. Nevertheless, the Committee notes that the labour inspection reports for 2021 and 2022 do not contain statistics on the number of occupational diseases. Therefore, the Committee requests once again that the Government strengthen its efforts to improve the detection of cases of occupational diseases as well as their notification to the labour inspectorate, and ensure that the relevant statistical information is reflected in the annual labour inspection report. Furthermore, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the legal provision empowering labour inspectors to take steps with a view to remedying defects observed in plant, layout, or working methods which they have reasonable cause to believe constitute a threat to the health or safety of the workers. In this respect, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the number of orders requiring measures with immediate executory force adopted by labour inspectors, and the results of such orders.

Articles 5(a), 17, 18 and 21(e). Measures to promote cooperation between the labour inspection services and the justice system. Effective enforcement of sufficiently dissuasive penalties. In reply to the Committee’s previous comment, the Government indicates that the referral of cases by the labour inspectorate to the Public Prosecution follows specific administrative procedures in coordination with federal and local prosecutors. In particular, the Government indicates that once a violation has been detected, it is referred to the investigation and evidence gathering system, which in turn summons employers, takes their statements about the violation, requests documents to support their statements and verifies the validity of the evidence provided. If it is established that a violation has been committed, a submission is prepared and presented to the Public Prosecution. The Government indicates that in 2022, 3,912 establishments were referred to the judicial authorities for punitive measures to be taken against them. The Committee also notes the examples of judicial rulings handed down as a result of referrals to the Office of the Public Prosecutor, included in the labour inspection report. The Government also indicates that, other than wage-related issues, cases referred to the prosecutor principally concerned non-compliance with the regulations governing the issuance of employment contracts and work permits; complaints over the withholding of official documents, such as passports; the provision of invalid documents or data; and engaging in recruitment activity or performing the role of recruitment agencies without having obtained a licence to do so from the Ministry. While taking note of this information, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the number and nature of cases referred to the prosecutor that resulted in the application of penalties. The Committee also requests once again the Government to provide information on the progress made with the establishment of electronic systems connecting the labour inspectorate and the justice system in all Emirates. The Committee further requests the Government to indicate the provisions of the lawensuring that labourinspectors have the discretion to give warning or advice, instead of instituting or recommending proceedings, in accordance with Article 17(2) of the Convention.

Articles 20 and 21. Annual report on the work of the labour inspection services. The Committee notes that the 2022 labour inspection report was transmitted to the Office and that it contains information on all subject listed in Article 21 of the Convention, with the exception of the number of occupational accidents. The Committee requests the Government to publish and continue to transmit to the Office the report of the labour inspection services. With reference to its comment above, the Committee requests the Government to ensure that the labour inspection report contains statistics on occupational accidents.