The United Arab Emirates introduced stricter penalties for labor law violations. The following offences are each now subject to a fine of AED 100,000 to AED 1,000,000 (whereas previously such fines ranged from AED 50,000 to AED 200,000):
- employing a worker without obtaining an appropriate work authorization;
- hiring individuals without providing them with an actual job; and
- using work authorizations for purposes other than those for which they are issued.
Additionally, the offense of 'False Emiratization' – misleading labor practices that give a false impression of how many UAE nationalsan employer has hired – is now subject to a fine of AED 100,000 to AED 1,000,000. Previously, the fines ranged between AED 20,000 to AED 100,000, depending on the number of times a breach had occurred.
As was previously the case, all of the penalties mentioned above are multiplied by the number of workers affected by a given violation and may be imposed in addition to penalties for violations of other UAE laws, including immigration regulations.
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