Domestic workers’ contracts to detail salary, nature of work and time off

Major General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahayan, Minister of Interior, today announced details of a new unified domestic worker contract that is designed to regulate the rights and responsibilities of domestic workers.
To be implemented from April 1, throughout the United Arab Emirates, the unified contract confirms the UAE's commitment to continuously improve its legal frameworks and to adhere to global best practices under the guidance of H. H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan, President of the UAE and within the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. Major General Sheikh Saif said the new contract will play a significant role in improving the quality of life of the UAE's expatriate residents, particularly domestic workers who constitute a large segment of the workforce.He added that the departments of Immigration and Naturalization, throughout the UAE, will enforce the new contract when issuing new work visas for domestic workers.

The core of the new contract is transparency in the relationship between the employer and the worker, while ensuring that both party's rights are protected.

The contract stresses the importance of regulating work, the nature of work involved, and the need for clearly defined rest periods. It also states the importance of providing proper health care, in line with government rules, and states that salaries should also be agreed upon by both parties.

The domestic workers contract will be valid for two years from the start of actual work and can be extended by mutual consent. It includes conditions governing vacation, air tickets and medical care. It also details the procedures to be taken, should either party wish to break the contract before the end of the contract period or if an employee chooses to be reimbursed instead of taking his/her vacation or flight tickets. Continue to the full story from Source.