Labour Complaint

A labour complaint is the mandatory first step in resolving most mainland UAE employment disputes: the employee (or employer) files with MOHRE — through its app, call centre, or service centres — and the ministry attempts an amicable settlement between the parties. If settlement fails within the statutory window, MOHRE refers the dispute to the competent labour court with a referral letter; recent reforms also empowered the ministry to issue binding decisions in smaller-value claims, subject to court challenge. The complaint stage matters tactically: it freezes positions early, generates an official record of the claims, can trigger company-file blocks against non-compliant employers, and labour claims benefit from court fee exemptions for employees within limits. Skipping the MOHRE stage is generally not possible for mainland employment; DIFC and ADGM disputes go to their own courts instead.