The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, MOHRE, has announced that the supply of domestic labour to the UAE will soon expand as the ministry prepares to sign bilateral memorandums of understanding with a number of countries of origin.

In a statement, Dr. Omar Alnuaimi, Assistant Under-Secretary for Communication and International Relations at MOHRE, said, "Soon after MOHRE became officially responsible for the administration of domestic labour, Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, oversaw the development and implementation of a strategic plan with a view to ensure quality service to our customers and consolidate the regulation of the domestic labour sector."

The ministry has engaged in bilateral consultations with a number of source countries aimed at reaching agreements on the employment of their nationals in the UAE domestic labour market, he explained.

"These countries welcomed access by their nationals to employment opportunities in the UAE, particularly in view of the added protection afforded to domestic workers under the new Domestic Labour Law and the clarity of the rights and obligations under the law of all stakeholders, including private recruitment agencies," Dr. Alnuaimi added.

According to the press statement, a number of bilateral agreements are due to be signed in the near future.

Dr. Alnuaimi emphasised the importance of securing multiple sources of domestic labour in order to offer UAE households a broader choice of experiences and qualifications and promote healthy competition among the 'Tadbeer' centres that are due to begin operation in the last quarter of this year.

The centres will provide multiple services related to the recruitment and deployment of domestic workers within the framework of a public-private partnership and under direct supervision and oversight by MOHRE. These services are currently offered by 'Tasheel' centres in Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain and Ras al-Khaimah, and continue to be offered by existing service centres in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in co-ordination with the Ministry of Interior, pending the launch of Tadbeer.

‘Domestic workers’ are classified as those who are employed by households, including household help, nannies, cooks, guards, farm workers and others in similar occupations.