The Ministry of Labor (MOL) or the Ministry of Labor in Dubai and UAE is responsible for all matters related to employment.
MOL is responsible for issuing work permits (or work cards) and for finding qualified persons. The Ministry of Labor does not issue a residence visa or entry permit, it is managed by Dubai’s relevant immigration department.
The exception is the maid’s labor permit, which is processed in the immigration department together with the immigration permit.
Please note that a work permit (commonly referred to as a work visa) is not a work card, but an entry permit (30 days) issued by the immigration department to temporarily enter the UAE and permit the holder to work in the UAE. Designate an employee, and the employer arranges to process a labor card and residence permit. However, the MOL will not grant entry to the Immigration Service unless the employee approves (grants) the work permit. This is why it takes weeks to sort things out.
- Visit the MOL website
- From Home> Services> Query Service>.
- Select from the drop-down menu.
- http://www.mol.gov.ae/molwebsite/en/services/enquiry-services.aspx enter the requested information and click “Search” (if the button label changes, click “Submit”).
If you have questions or complaints, please consider the following steps.
- Try not to take any drastic actions (for example, to quit your job suddenly), at least not at first causing MOL. If you are at risk of abuse, beatings, or similar threats, please call or contact the police station.
- Calling a lawyer for legal information can be helpful. A call is free, and you may get comments or suggestions. The cost of visiting a lawyer for discussion is usually 500-2000 dirhams per hour (sometimes cheaper).
- Call the MOL helpline for advice or more clarification. Information may be inconsistent, so please consider calling again to get a second opinion.
- Visit the Tasheel office to file a complaint, or simply get advice or information. It is cheap (around 20 dirhams when we traveled in 2017) and it is quick and easy to do. If you are an employee you need to bring your passport/ ID to the UAE; if not, make at least one copy.
- You also need the mobile phone number of an authorized person in your company.
Filing a lawsuit can at least encourage the other party to have a wise discussion. MOL is actively trying to talk to the other side or to combine the two sides. However, be prepared to let the other party, especially if you are the employee who filed the complaint, stubborn and/or threatened. In some cases, we know that employers ’responses are particularly bad, for example, by firing employees or filing criminal proceedings with the police. Although in theory, you may have legal support, in practice, solving your rights may become complicated because the solution takes a long time (months or more) and costs Money.