Mandated by the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) will begin receiving and processing applications for the recruitment and employment of domestic workers in the Emirate of Dubai in the first quarter of 2017, as a first step towards extending its mandate to the rest of the country in the second quarter.

Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation in a statement said, that the ministry will strive to administer this sector in line with the ‘Government of the Future’ vision, adding "As in most countries, all sectors of employment now become the responsibility of a single government agency."

Ghobash said that his ministry will build on the accomplishments in this vital sector under the stewardship of H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, in terms of important legislative initiatives and the quality of the services offered to stakeholders.

"The ministry intends to follow through with policies and strategic plans with a view to apply the same principles and labour governance standards across private sector employment while, at the same time, taking into consideration the particularities of domestic employment."

Ghobash stressed the importance of full cooperation with Ministry of Interior, notably the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs in order to benefit from its long experience in providing quality services in the context of the issuance of work permits.

Associated Labour workers are legally defined as those employed in or by households and include house workers and nannies, cooks, guards, drivers, shepherds, gardeners and household agricultural help.