When pay is late, your contract terms are ignored or your final settlement does not add up, it can feel as though your employer holds all the cards. In the UAE, you have a formal route to help: the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, known as MOHRE. Its complaint process is free, structured and used by thousands of workers. Here is how it works and how to give your case the best chance.
What MOHRE can help with
MOHRE oversees private sector employment relationships, so most workplace disputes between an employee and a mainland employer fall within its remit. Common complaints include delayed or unpaid salary, disagreements over overtime or leave pay, contract terms not being honoured, problems with final settlements and end-of-service gratuity, and issues around notice and termination. Staff in free zones may come under their free zone authority first, although MOHRE is still involved in work permits for many zones, so check which body handles your case. Salary payment itself is monitored through the Wages Protection System, which means there is usually a clear record of what was and was not paid, and when.
Before you file: gather your evidence
A well-prepared complaint moves faster. Before you contact MOHRE, pull together the documents that prove your version of events:
- Your labour contract, or the registered copy available through MOHRE services
- Recent payslips, bank statements showing salary credits, or both
- Emails, letters or messages about the issue, including any resignation or termination letters
- Attendance, overtime or leave records if the dispute involves hours or leave
- Your Emirates ID details and work permit information
Also try one calm, written attempt to resolve things directly with your employer’s HR team, if you feel safe doing so. State the issue, the amount or action you believe is due, and a reasonable deadline. Many disputes settle at this stage, and if yours does not, that letter becomes useful evidence that you acted reasonably.
How to raise a complaint
You can typically reach MOHRE through its website at mohre.gov.ae, its mobile app, its call centre or in person at a service centre, with many services accessed using UAE PASS. When you file, you will describe the dispute, name your employer and upload or provide your supporting documents. Keep your account factual and chronological: what was agreed, what happened, what you asked for and what response you received. Avoid exaggeration — the records, especially salary records, usually speak clearly for themselves. After filing, keep your case reference safe and respond promptly to any requests for further information.
What happens next: mediation and beyond
MOHRE generally tries to settle complaints amicably first. A labour relations adviser will typically contact both sides, hear each account and propose a settlement. This mediation stage resolves a large share of cases without anyone going near a court, and agreed settlements are recorded formally. Timelines vary with the complexity of the case, so treat any estimate as approximate. If mediation does not resolve the matter, or the amount involved is larger, the case can be referred onward to the labour court for a decision. At that point, taking legal advice is sensible, particularly for high-value gratuity or compensation claims. Throughout the process, keep attending work as normal unless you are formally released or advised otherwise, because stopping work without agreement can harm your own position.
Protecting yourself during a dispute
Filing a complaint is a legal right, and you should not be penalised for using it in good faith. Keep copies of everything outside your work systems, because access to a company laptop or email can end suddenly. Do not sign a settlement, clearance letter or resignation you do not agree with under pressure; note your disagreement in writing and seek MOHRE guidance first. If your employment ends during the dispute, pay close attention to your visa cancellation and grace period through ICP or GDRFA channels so a workplace problem does not become an immigration one. Disputes are stressful, but the system exists precisely so that a payslip argument does not depend on who shouts loudest. Use it calmly, with your documents in order and your expectations realistic from the very start.