The UAE has several laws in place that aim to prohibit discrimination and hatred on the basis of caste, race, religion or ethnic origin. Further, there are laws to protect the rights of people of determination (those with special needs) and laws for equal pay to women.
In July 2015, the late H. H Sheikh Khalifa, the then President of the UAE issued Federal Decree Law No. 2 of 2015 (PDF, 450 KB) on Combating Discrimination and Hatred, which aims to protect everyone in the UAE and thus bring the concept of social security to a new level. The law aims to fight discrimination against individuals or groups based on religion, caste, doctrine, race, colour or ethnic origin. Read more on UAE Anti-discrimination/Anti-hatred law.
UAE Labour Law
Article 4 of the UAE Labour Law, on equality and non-discrimination prohibits forced labour and discrimination on the basis of gender, race, colour, sex, religion, national or social origin or disability.
Article 30 of the same law prohibits termination of women’s employment because of her pregnancy.
In 2018, the UAE Cabinet approved a law on equal wages and salaries for women and men.
Article 4 of the UAE Labour Law provides that the female worker shall be granted a wage equal to that as the man is earning if she were performing the same work.
Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 protects the rights of people of determination. Article 12 of the law provides: the country guarantees people with special needs equal opportunities in education within all educational, vocational training, adult education and continuing education institutions in regular classes or special classes with the availability of curriculum in sign language or Braille and or any other methods as appropriate.
Resolution No. 43 of 2018 in support of the ‘people of determination’ aims to support the rights of ‘people of determination’ in the field of employment by enabling access to opportunities in the labour market.
The resolution requires concerned government entities to protect the rights of ‘people of determination’ and to ensure their right to work on an equal basis with others and not to be discriminated against.
The resolution stressed the need to provide working and health conditions for ‘people of determination,’ and not to terminate their services or refer them to retirement due to disability or its occurrence after appointment, unless retirement age is reached or a competent medical committee decision states they are not fit to work.
Further, it stipulates that the private sector should be encouraged to integrate ‘people of determination’ into their institutions and grant them exemptions and privileges.
The UAE's People of Determination Protection from Abuse Policy condemns all forms of abuse and neglect of people of determination. Abuse and neglect involves depriving people of determination of their basic right to care, rehabilitation, medical care, recreation or community integration. It also condemns using such people to get material profits and not spend on them.
Federal Decree Law No. 9 of 2022 Concerning Domestic Workers (PDF, 806 KB) regulates the recruitment and employment of domestic workers in the UAE. It prohibits the following:
Read more about domestic workers regulations.
The UAE is a signatory to the Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation. The convention requires signatories to pursue a national policy designed to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation, with a view to eliminating any discrimination in respect thereof.
Learn more about UAE laws to achieve gender balance.
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