MOHRE Complaint: How to File a Labour Complaint

To file a MOHRE complaint about unpaid salary, end-of-service benefits or another labour dispute, use the MOHRE app or website with UAE PASS, visit a Tawseel service centre, or call MOHRE. The ministry first tries to settle the dispute amicably. For claims of AED 50,000 or less, MOHRE can issue a final, enforceable decision; larger claims that are not settled are referred to the labour court. You must file within two years of the end of the employment relationship. For advice before filing, MOHRE runs a Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre on 80084.

Do this next before filing a labour complaint

• Collect evidence: contract, payslips, bank statements, messages and any resignation or termination letter.
• Calculate what you are owed: unpaid wages, leave pay, notice pay and gratuity.
• Talk to HR in writing first and keep their reply.
• Do not stop going to work without advice, to avoid an absence report.

Ways to file a MOHRE labour complaint

Channel	How	Best for
MOHRE app	Log in with UAE PASS and choose the labour complaint service	Most workers, fastest
MOHRE website	mohre.gov.ae, Services, labour complaint, with UAE PASS	Uploading documents from a computer
Tawseel service centres	Visit a centre with your Emirates ID and documents	Workers who need help with the form
Phone	MOHRE call centre 600 590000; Gulf News also lists 80060 for registering complaints	Workers without smartphone access
Advice line	Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre, 80084	Understanding your rights before filing

MOHRE also offers labour complaint support by video call, which can speed up first contact. Use only official MOHRE channels and never pay anyone who promises to file a complaint for you.

How to file a complaint on the MOHRE app or website

1. Log in to the MOHRE app or mohre.gov.ae with UAE PASS.
2. Open Services and choose the labour complaint service for workers.
3. Select the complaint type, such as unpaid wages, end-of-service benefits, leave salary, ticket or other rights.
4. Choose the emirate and your employer, which is usually filled from your work permit.
5. Describe the problem briefly, state the amounts claimed and the period they cover.
6. Upload supporting documents and confirm your mobile number and email.
7. Submit and save the complaint number. You can follow it in the app, through MOHRE’s inquiry service or on 600 590000.

Documents to prepare

• Your Emirates ID and passport copy.
• Your MOHRE contract; see how to find your labour card number to locate your records.
• Payslips and bank statements showing what was or was not paid. If your salary comes through WPS, our FAB salary account guide explains how to see credits.
• Resignation or termination letter, and the date you last worked.
• Emails, messages or letters with your employer about the dispute.
• A simple calculation of each amount you are claiming.

What happens after you file

Stage	What MOHRE does
Review	MOHRE examines the complaint and contacts both sides
Amicable settlement	MOHRE tries to reach a settlement between the worker and employer
Claims of AED 50,000 or less	If there is no settlement, MOHRE issues a final decision that is enforceable
Settlement not honoured	MOHRE can also decide if a party does not comply with an earlier amicable settlement
Claims above AED 50,000	If there is no settlement, MOHRE refers the dispute to the competent court with a summary and recommendation
Disagree with a MOHRE decision	Either party can take the case to the Court of First Instance

The MOHRE decision power for claims up to AED 50,000 started on 1 January 2024 under Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2023. A later amendment in 2024 moved challenges to MOHRE decisions to the Court of First Instance and set the two-year limitation period.

How long do you have to file?

Claims for rights under the labour law are not heard after two years from the end of the employment relationship, under the 2024 amendment to Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Older guides still mention one year, but that rule was replaced. Do not wait: evidence is easier to gather, and MOHRE can act faster while you are still in the UAE.

Court fees for workers

If your dispute reaches court, Article 55 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 exempts labour claims and requests filed by workers or their heirs from judicial fees at all stages of litigation and execution, as long as the amount does not exceed AED 100,000. Above that, normal court fees can apply, so check the amount before you file.

Free zone employees

Employees of free zone companies usually go first to the free zone authority’s employee relations or mediation department, such as at JAFZA or DMCC. These departments try to settle the dispute but may not be able to enforce a decision, so unresolved cases move on to the courts. DIFC and ADGM employees use those centres’ own employment rules and courts.

Common reasons workers file complaints

• Unpaid or late salary: wages paid through WPS that are late or missing.
• End-of-service gratuity: not paid or calculated on the wrong basic salary.
• Annual leave pay: unused leave not paid when the contract ends.
• Notice pay: contract ended without the agreed notice.
• Arbitrary dismissal: dismissal because of a complaint or lawsuit is unlawful, and MOHRE investigates such cases.
• Visa or passport issues: an employer cannot keep your passport.

Tips for a strong labour complaint

• Claim each item separately, with the period and amount, instead of one total figure.
• Attach proof for every amount, such as payslips, bank statements or WPS records.
• Write a short timeline: start date, salary changes, when payments stopped and your last working day.
• Answer MOHRE’s calls and messages quickly, and attend settlement meetings in person or by video.
• Put any settlement offer in writing before you accept it, and keep the signed copy.

Protect yourself while the complaint is open

• Keep working or follow MOHRE’s advice; leaving without notice can trigger an absence report. Check your record with our absconding status check.
• Know your gratuity and notice rights; read our guide to Article 120 of the UAE labour law.
• If your visa is cancelled, check your grace period.

Official sources: MOHRE, MOHRE’s announcement on resolving disputes of AED 50,000 or less and on the 2024 amendment to the labour law, and the UAE government’s terminating employment contracts page. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

This guide is part of our UAE Visa and Emirates ID Guide.