How to File a MOHRE Labour Complaint in the UAE for Unpaid Wages: Pakistani Workers' Steps
Owed wages in the UAE? See how a MOHRE labour complaint works: the 14 day settlement, the AED 50,000 line, court fee waiver and what to do once referred.
Short answer: A worker in the UAE private sector files a labour complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) on its website or app. The ministry tries to settle the dispute within 14 days. If that fails and the claim is above AED 50,000, it sends the case to court. Below that sum, MOHRE can decide itself.
A Pakistani welder in Ajman has not been paid for three months. His manager says "next week" every Sunday. He does not need a lawyer to start. He needs his passport number, his employer's details and a record of what he is owed.
We read the UAE government page on resolving labour disputes on 12 October 2026. It sets out the laws and the 14-day, AED 50,000 and AED 100,000 limits used below. We did not file a complaint ourselves, because that needs a real work permit.
MOHRE tries to settle first, and only then sends it to court
Under Article 54 of Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021, a worker or employer with a dispute submits a request to the ministry. MOHRE examines it and tries to settle it amicably. If there is no settlement within 14 days of the application, it refers the dispute to the competent court with a memo summarising both sides.
The same page says penalties or administrative actions against the employer may come only after the dispute is settled or resolved under the law. The ministry may also, for up to two months, decline to use its power to direct the employer to pay wages while the dispute is live.
The AED 50,000 line decides who rules on your claim
Under Ministerial Resolution No. 782 of 2023, MOHRE can make a final decision when the claim is under AED 50,000, or when both sides reach an amicable settlement of any size. If the disputed claim is above AED 50,000 and the parties cannot agree, MOHRE must refer the case to the courts.
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Both sides agree | Settled at MOHRE, any amount |
| Claim under AED 50,000, no agreement | MOHRE can decide the dispute |
| Claim above AED 50,000, no agreement | MOHRE refers it to the court |
| Court claim under AED 100,000 | Worker or heirs pay no judicial fees |
Article 55 exempts workers or their heirs from judicial fees at all stages of litigation and execution for claims under AED 100,000. That is the page's wording, so read it against your own claim amount.
How to file the complaint
File on the MOHRE website or the MOHRE app. The government page also lists a phone line. Start with the website or app so you have a written record of the date you filed.
- Collect your passport, Emirates ID, labour contract, offer letter and payslips.
- Collect bank statements that show the pay you did receive and the months missing.
- Write the amount you claim and the months or items it covers.
- Open the MOHRE website or app and start the labour complaint service.
- Enter your personal details and your employer's establishment details.
- Save the complaint number and track it on the same channel.
For help before you file, the page names the Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre on toll-free 80084. It names 600 590 000 for complaints by UAE citizens, so a resident worker should use 80084 or the website.
What the worker must do once the case is in court
Ministerial Resolution No. 47 of 2022 says a worker whose complaint is referred to the Labour Court must register the case with the court within 14 days of the referral approval. The worker must not work for another employer without a temporary work permit from the ministry.
The same page says that if the complaint leads the worker to stop working, the work permit is cancelled 6 months after referral to the court. After a final judgment ends the employment, the worker must ask to cancel the original permit within 14 days. A worker who continues working for the employer while the case is in court can claim two months' wages under Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022.
These timelines carry real consequences for your stay. Read them before you stop work. If you are also close to losing your status, our guide on the UAE overstay fine shows what the fines look like.
Deadlines and what your claim can include
Article 10 says no claim for rights due is heard after one year from the date of the violation. Do not wait for a promise to come true. File as soon as you have a clear record of what is missing.
The claim may include unpaid wages and your end-of-service gratuity, which you can work out with our guide to the UAE gratuity calculation. If you lose your job, a job-loss payout may also be open to you under UAE unemployment insurance. Both depend on your contract and your record.
Common questions
Can I file a MOHRE complaint after I leave the UAE?
We did not find a rule on the page that bars it, and the one-year limit still applies. Contact the ministry through its channels early. Our guide to recovering unpaid dues from abroad through OPF covers the help available from Pakistan.
How long does MOHRE take to settle a complaint?
The law says it tries to settle within 14 days from the date of application. If that fails, it refers the case onward.
Do I pay a fee to go to the labour court?
Not for claims under AED 100,000, according to Article 55 as shown on the government page. Check the amount of your claim against that line.
Can I take another job while my case is open?
Only with a temporary work permit from the ministry, according to the page. Working for another employer without one is not allowed.
What if my employer files an absconding report?
The page says a temporary work permit with a new employer is not available when the worker was reported absent. Get advice from MOHRE straight away if this has happened to you.
Who can I call for help in Urdu or English?
The page lists the Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre on 80084. We did not test the call centre languages.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read the UAE government page on resolving labour disputes on 12 October 2026. The MOHRE service page itself timed out for us, so the exact form fields on the website are not confirmed here. Limits and phone lines can change, so confirm them on the MOHRE website before you rely on them.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
