- The UAE has identified five specific labour law violations that now carry fines of up to Dh1 million for private companies
- Kenya is among the largest sources of migrant labour to the Gulf state, with tens of thousands working across multiple sectors
- The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation says compliance is a legal obligation, not a choice, for all employers
Private companies operating in the United Arab Emirates now face fines of between Dh100,000 and Dh1 million, roughly KSh 3.5 million to KSh 35 million, after the country's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation issued a sweeping warning over labour law violations on Friday, 23 October 2026.
Source: UGC
The crackdown covers five categories of non-compliance that the ministry says are among the most prevalent in the UAE's labour market, particularly in industries that rely heavily on migrant workers such as construction, hospitality, retail, security and domestic service.
The ministry identified five specific violations that attract the maximum fine of up to Dh1 million (about KSh 35 million).
The ministry made clear that meeting legal requirements before bringing workers into employment was not discretionary, describing compliance as a fundamental legal responsibility tied to protecting workers' rights and maintaining lawful employment relationships.
Violation | What It Entails |
1. Employing workers without valid permits | Hiring a worker without obtaining the necessary work permit from the ministry, regardless of the nature of the job performed |
2. Recruiting workers without providing employment | Recruiting or employing a worker and leaving them without work, with no duties assigned or actual employment provided |
3. Misusing work permits | Using work permits for purposes other than those for which they were issued, or failing to observe the conditions of the permit category |
4. Closing a business without settling workers' status | Closing or suspending operations without resolving the legal status of employees in accordance with approved procedures |
5. Employing minors in breach of labour regulations | Employing a minor in circumstances that contravene labour legislation, even where a parent or guardian consents |
Source: Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, cited by Gulf News, October 23, 2026
What does this mean for Kenyan workers?
The warning carries direct significance for Kenyan workers, who make up one of the largest migrant labour communities in the UAE, with tens of thousands based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other emirates.
Many are employed in the very sectors the ministry has flagged.
Each of the five violations maps onto risks that migrant workers face in practice.
A worker hired without a valid permit is left without legal standing, making them vulnerable to exploitation and deportation. Being recruited and then left without work, a practice sometimes described as "idle sponsorship," can strand a worker with no income while their visa remains tied to an employer who provides nothing.
Permit misuse, such as entering the country under one job category but working in another, strips the worker of protections designed for their actual role.
When a business closes without regularising its workers' status, employees can be left in legal limbo.
Employing minors outside the framework the law permits denies young workers the protections they are entitled to.
Kenyan workers travelling to the UAE are advised to confirm their employment terms and permit details before departure and to contact the Kenyan embassy or the ministry directly if they suspect a violation.
UAE outlines 12 work permit categories
In other news, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation outlined 12 work permit categories for foreign workers, including Kenyans seeking employment in the Gulf state.
The categories cover overseas recruitment, transfers between employers, family-sponsored residents, temporary and mission-based assignments, part-time jobs, student employment, juvenile workers, Golden Visa holders and private tutors.
Employers who misuse permits or violate labour regulations risk fines ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh1 million, equivalent to approximately KSh 3.5 million to KSh 35 million.
Kenyan jobseekers planning to work in the UAE are advised to confirm that their employers have applied for the correct permit category before travelling to avoid legal complications.
Source: TUKO.co.ke