Hiring a maid from India? UAE employer rules and visa process explained

Hiring a domestic worker in the UAE, especially from India, involves navigating a set of regulations designed to protect both employers and employees. Federal Decree Law No. 9 of 2022 Concerning Domestic Workers governs these employment relationships, outlining the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved.

Employers are obligated to provide suitable accommodation, necessary facilities, meals, and clothing for their domestic workers. They must also ensure timely salary payments, provide medical care, treat workers with respect, and cover the costs of repatriation. Conversely, domestic workers have their own set of duties as stipulated in Article 12 of the law.

For those intending to recruit a domestic worker from India, a specific process must be followed. The prospective worker must have an Emigration Check Required (ECR) stamp on their passport. The employer needs to register on the E-Migrant web portal of the Government of India (www.emigrate.gov.in). After submitting employer and employee documents and a request letter to the Consulate General of India in Dubai, login credentials will be issued.

Following E-Migrant portal registration, employers must approach the Consulate General of India in Dubai or an appointed third-party service provider to attest their documents. A crucial step involves signing an affidavit, attested by the Consulate, confirming that the employer is not related to the prospective domestic worker. This affidavit is part of the sponsorship process for the employment visa.

Once these procedures are complete, the employment visa, or entry permit, can be applied for through third-party service providers approved by the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE) in Dubai. Requirements for the employer include providing copies of their passport and visa page, original Emirates ID, and copies of the proposed employee's passport and passport-sized photos with a white background.