Cost of the new insurance policy
The new insurance policy costs AED 60 per year, per employee. It will cost AED 120 for every employee who is issued an employment permit valid for two years.
Whom does it protect?
It protects the benefits and rights of the private sector employees and domestic helpers.
How does the new insurance policy work?
- For employees currently in service
For employees who are already secured under the bank guarantee of AED 3,000, the employer has the option to either change them into the new insurance system or keep them under the old bank guarantee system. However, the employer can shift current employees under the new insurance system only after renewing their permits, not before.
- For new employees
Upon recruiting a new employee, the employer has the option to either submit AED 3,000 as bank guarantee on behalf of the employee, as per the rules and regulations of the bank guarantee system, or insure them under the new insurance policy which costs AED 120 for two years.
Coverage and limit of the policy
In case of company’s bankruptcy or failure to pay the employees’ benefits, the new policy will provide a maximum insurance coverage of AED 20,000 per employee against the following benefits in the workplace:
- unpaid entitlements
- end of service benefits
- vacation allowance
- overtime allowance
- unpaid wages
- return air ticket
- work injury after it is determined by a court ruling.
For domestic workers, the policy covers the following:
- the cost of worker’s replacement, in case of work discontinuation
- if the worker is medically unfit
- if the worker decides to terminate employment unilaterally
- unpaid wages and entitlements
- service benefits
- unpaid vacations and overtime
- airfare to home country and work injuries’ compensations.
The coverage of the dues by the insurance company does not relieve the employers from their responsibilities. Employers would still have to pay back to the insurance company all dues which the latter paid to the worker.
If the employer does not repay the insurance company, MoHRE will suspend the employer’s file and freeze new work permits. It will also require the employer to provide AED 3,000 bank guarantee upon renewal of the existing work permits.
Note that health insurance is not covered by this policy.
How to get the bank guarantee refund and register in the new insurance policy?
The insurance document and bank guarantee refund can be processed and obtained from Tasheel and Tadbeer services centres and also through any of the MoHRE apps.
Firms can either reclaim the bank guarantee money when an employment contract is terminated or when a work permit is renewed. However, they must have purchased the new insurance policy before the refund is paid out. Note that any company with violations such as failing to pay salaries in the last six months will not be eligible for a refund.
Source: Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE)
Updated on 16 Mar 2022
