New Regulations Target Improved Worker Welfare

The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has rolled out a comprehensive set of revised standards for labor accommodation. These new rules are designed to elevate the quality of life, health, safety, and general well-being of workers across the nation. The guidelines, detailed in a new MOHRE publication, address various aspects of worker housing, from sleeping arrangements and healthcare access to internet connectivity, recreational amenities, and facility management. These standards are applicable to employers who provide housing for their workforce, specifically targeting companies with 50 or more employees earning AED 1,500 or less.

Key Provisions of the New Accommodation Standards

  • Designated Sleeping Spaces: Employers must furnish each worker with a proper bed, a side table, and a lockable wardrobe. Sleeping on floors is now considered a serious violation. The use of triple-decker beds is prohibited, and all bedding must be regularly cleaned.
  • Mandatory Free Internet: Labor accommodation facilities are now required to offer free internet access throughout the premises. This provision ensures workers can maintain communication with their families, access essential online services, and conduct digital transactions.
  • Prohibition of In-Room Cooking and Washing: To enhance hygiene and mitigate fire hazards, cooking and laundry activities are no longer permitted within sleeping quarters. Accommodation providers must instead supply accessible and compliant kitchen and laundry facilities.
  • Advanced Air Conditioning and Ventilation: All rooms, kitchens, dining areas, and common spaces must be equipped with adequate ventilation and air-conditioning systems. Poor ventilation or malfunctioning AC units are classified as high-risk violations.
  • Access to Clean Drinking Water: Providers must ensure a consistent supply of clean, cold drinking water, with quantities commensurate to the number of workers. Water coolers are to be strategically placed throughout the accommodation.
  • Daily Cleaning and Pest Control: Accommodation facilities require daily cleaning, and operators must contract with licensed cleaning and pest-control services. Waste disposal systems must also adhere to local authority regulations.
  • On-Site Medical Facilities: All labor accommodations must include a first-aid room and isolation rooms for sick workers. Facilities housing 1,000 or more workers must operate a 24-hour medical clinic staffed by healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses. Larger complexes must also provide ambulance services.
  • Encouragement of Sports and Recreation: Accommodation management is mandated to organize recreational activities during official holidays. Workers must also have access to areas for physical activity, with larger complexes required to offer sports courts.
  • Enhanced Health and Safety Measures: Operators are responsible for complying with Civil Defence regulations, which include functional fire alarms, extinguishers, emergency exits, and established evacuation procedures. Smoking is restricted to designated areas, and security guards and supervisors must be available 24/7.

Source: Emirates24|7