Does UAE labour law prohibit workplace harassment and bullying?
Yes. Article 14 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 prohibits sexual harassment, bullying and any verbal, physical or psychological violence against a worker by the employer, superiors, colleagues or others who work with them. It also bans forced labour and threats of penalty to make someone work.
On this page
The worker's remedy
Under Article 45, if the employer or its legal representative assaults, uses violence against or harasses the worker at work, the worker can leave without notice and keep end-of-service rights, after informing the authorities and MOHRE within five working days of being able to report.
Employers with 50 or more workers
They must provide a complaints and grievance system under the Implementing Regulation, with written answers within a set period.
How SupaJack Construct helps
Designations and the org chart on employee records show who reports to whom, which helps HR route a complaint to someone outside the line of the person complained about.
Related tools and guides
See the UAE labour law guide for contractors, the final settlement calculator, the gratuity calculator, the annual leave calculator, the unpaid leave deduction calculator, payroll and WPS in SupaJack Construct, time and attendance and the meaning of basic salary.
Worked example
A foreman repeatedly shouts at and threatens a junior worker on site. That is bullying and verbal violence under Article 14. The contractor must stop it. If the contractor's own representative was the harasser, the worker could leave without notice and keep his gratuity.
Questions people ask
Does it cover colleagues, not just managers?
Yes.
Is forced labour prohibited?
Yes, also under Article 14.
How fast must a worker report assault to leave without notice?
Within five working days of being able to report.