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Employment & Labour

What is the Wage Protection System (WPS) and is it mandatory?

Last updated 4/30/20260 viewsProvisionalUAE federal

Quick answer: WPS is mandatory for private-sector salary payments via approved UAE channels in AED. Wages must be paid within 15 days of pay-period end. Non-compliance triggers MOHRE penalties.

The Wage Protection System (WPS) is the UAE Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE) electronic salary transfer mechanism. Employers in the private sector must pay all employees through a UAE-licensed bank, exchange house, or other approved channel, in UAE Dirhams [1].

Why it matters:

  • Wages must be paid no later than the agreed payment date and in any case within 15 days of the end of the agreed pay period.
  • Non-compliance triggers MOHRE administrative penalties: blocking work-permit applications, fines, and in severe cases criminal referral.
  • The salary entered into WPS must match the contract registered with MOHRE.

Free-zone and DIFC/ADGM entities have similar but jurisdiction-specific salary-transfer rules. Domestic workers are excluded from WPS but covered by their own framework.

If your salary has been delayed by more than 15 days, you can file a complaint with MOHRE through the channels described in Article 54 of the law and its executive regulations.

Citations

  1. [1] Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 47

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+How long is the probation period under UAE Labour Law?

Maximum 6 months. Employer notice during probation: 14 days. Employee leaving UAE: 14 days. Employee switching UAE employer: 1 month and recruitment-cost reimbursement.

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+What notice period applies to contract termination under UAE Labour Law?

Standard notice is 30–90 days written notice (must be set in contract). The other party can pay in lieu. Probation termination requires 14 days. Notice not required for listed serious-misconduct grounds.

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+Can I be terminated during my probation period in the UAE?

Yes. Employer must give 14 days written notice. No gratuity if under 1 year. Discriminatory or retaliatory dismissal can still be challenged at MOHRE.

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This is general legal information, not legal advice. For advice tailored to your specific situation, consult a UAE-licensed lawyer.

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