Dubai: Are you a young UAE resident looking to get work experience in the UAE while you complete your education? A new labour law will soon be coming into effect, which provides details of how individuals from the age of 15 can be employed by the UAE’s private sector, while certain work conditions are maintained.
Article 5 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations covers the topic of ‘Employment of Juveniles’, where it expressly prohibits the recruitment of workers who are under the age of 15. For those aged 15 and above, there are certain working conditions that are necessary for the employment of young people, including limited working hours and not employing them for hazardous or hard work.
The article also states that further regulations will determine the different types of jobs that juveniles cannot be employed for.
Here are the details of what the Article states:
Article (5) Employment of Juveniles
1. It shall be prohibited to employ any person who has not attained the age of 15.
2. A juvenile's employment is conditional upon the following:
a. A written consent from the juvenile's parent or guardian.
b. A certificate of medical fitness for the required work issued by the medical institution.
C. The actual hours of work shall not exceed six hours a day and shall be intercepted by one or more breaks , which shall amount in aggregate to one hour . Such break(s) shall be arranged such that no juvenile shall work for more than four consecutive hours .
d. A juvenile may not be asked to work from 7pm to 7am.
e. A juvenile shall not be employed on any hazardous or hard work or on any works that are by nature detrimental to health, safety or morals. Such works shall be specified by decision of the Minister after coordination with the concerned entities.
f. A juvenile shall not be asked to work overtime, and shall not be kept at the workplace after the working hours or employed on rest days or official holidays.
3. The Executive Regulations of this Decree-Law shall determine the juvenile employment regulations and procedures to be observed by employers, the works prohibited to juveniles and controls for exemption of entities aiming to provide a professional training to juveniles, including charity, education and training institutions, from certain provisions of this Article.
