The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has outlined five clear steps for filing individual labor complaints through four officially approved channels, as part of its ongoing efforts to regulate labor relations and protect the rights of both employees and employers in the private sector.

According to the ministry, labor complaints can be submitted via the official MOHRE website, the ministry’s smart application, by calling 80060 for UAE nationals working in the private sector, or by calling 046659999 for non-UAE nationals. The ministry stressed that both employees and employers are entitled to file a labor complaint in cases where either party fails to comply with the terms of the employment contract.

MOHRE explained that the complaint process begins with submitting the request through one of the available service channels, clearly specifying the labor claims. This is followed by sending SMS notifications to both the employee and the employer containing the complaint details. A legal specialist then contacts both parties to attempt an amicable settlement.

If a friendly resolution cannot be reached, a formal appointment is scheduled to review the complaint. Should the dispute remain unresolved, the case may be referred to the competent court or result in the cancellation of the work permit, depending on the nature of the case.

The ministry clarified that certain conditions must be met for a complaint to be accepted. These include the employee being registered in MOHRE systems, the absence of another ongoing complaint for the same individual—unless the employment relationship is still active or the employee wishes to cancel the work permit—and registration with an approved free zone where applicable.

MOHRE added that complainants are notified of the outcome within a maximum period of 14 days, and the status of the complaint can be tracked through the ministry’s website or smart application.

The ministry emphasized that UAE labor legislation ensures a balanced protection of rights for both parties. It highlighted that the complaint resolution process is designed to be simple and efficient, prioritizing amicable settlements before resorting to judicial procedures.

Notably, MOHRE successfully resolved 98% of labor complaints in 2025, contributing to the UAE ranking first globally in the 2025 Global Competitiveness indicators related to low labor disputes, workforce growth, and reduced employee termination costs.

The ministry also confirmed that individual labor disputes are treated strictly as disputes between the employee and the employer, without imposing administrative penalties that could harm other workers, except in specific cases permitted by law, including obligating employers to continue paying wages for up to two months if salary payments are suspended due to the dispute.