The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has issued 135 fines against 42 domestic worker recruitment offices during the first half of 2026. The regulatory crackdown follows targeted workplace inspections aimed at safeguarding consumer rights and enforcing compliance across the recruitment sector.
The vast majority of infractions, 106 in total, involved recruitment agencies failing to reimburse employers within the mandatory two-week period after a domestic worker was returned or reported absent. Under the Executive Regulations of the Federal Decree-Law Concerning Domestic Workers, agencies must provide a full or partial refund of recruitment costs within 14 days when contractual terms are breached during the probation period.
An additional 29 violations were registered against offices failing to comply with approved operational terms and statutory recruitment procedures.
MOHRE confirmed that financial penalties and administrative measures were imposed on non-compliant agencies to ensure a balanced contractual relationship between families and service providers.
Out of 138 licenced domestic worker recruitment offices currently active in the UAE, MOHRE praised compliant agencies while reminding residents to engage strictly with officially registered offices listed on the ministry’s portal. Employers can report agency non-compliance or fee disputes directly through MOHRE's dedicated call centre on 80084.