UAE Worker Protection: Two Schemes, Two Different Jobs
The UAE has two separate schemes that protect workers’ income. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) reported that together they paid out more than Dh832 million in the first half of 2026. They solve different problems, so it helps to know which one applies to you.
The two schemes compared
| Workers Protection Programme | Unemployment insurance (ILOE) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Workers owed unpaid wages, end-of-service benefits or other entitlements when an employer cannot or will not pay | Income while you are out of work after losing your job for reasons other than disciplinary action or resignation |
| Started | 2018 | 2023 |
| Who pays in | Funded through employer-side arrangements managed by MoHRE | The employee pays a premium |
| H1 2026 payout | More than Dh320 million to over 44,000 workers (about Dh7,000 each on average) | More than Dh512 million, covering job losses from the start of 2024 to the end of H1 2026 |
Unemployment insurance in plain terms
- Private and public sector employees must enrol, and each employee is responsible for enrolling and renewing before the policy expires.
- Category A, basic monthly salary of Dh16,000 or less: Dh5 a month. Category B, above Dh16,000: Dh10 a month. A 5% VAT applies to premiums.
- The payout is 60% of basic salary for up to three months, or until you find a new job, whichever comes first.
If you are owed wages
- Keep your contract, payslips and bank statements.
- Raise the complaint with MoHRE through its official channels.
- Ask MoHRE whether the Workers Protection Programme applies to your case.
The reports do not explain the claim steps for either scheme, so use MoHRE’s official channels to confirm the current process.
Other figures from the same report
- Awareness programmes run in 17 languages, and more than 1.3 million workers joined specialised sessions on rights and workplace rules.
- Over 12,000 rest stations were planned for delivery riders under the heat stress policy, which runs from 15 June to 15 September.
- More than 2,800 labour accommodation facilities were registered by the end of June, housing around two million workers.
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