The Wage Protection System UAE is an essential framework designed to ensure employees are paid on time and fairly. With effect from April 1, 2025, domestic workers in specific professions are required to use the WPS system, which was implemented by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE). This significant change aims to promote transparency and accountability in salary payments, especially for workers in private households.
In this guide, we’ll explore the five mandatory professions for WPS registration and the 14 optional ones, the importance of this system, and how it impacts both employers and domestic workers in the UAE.
What is the Wage Protection System (WPS)?
In partnership with MOHRE, the UAE Central Bank created the Wage Protection System (WPS), an electronic payroll platform. Initially, the system was used to ensure timely and traceable salary payments for employees in the private sector. In April 2025, this system was expanded to include some occupations of domestic workers. Payroll transfers must be safe, recorded, and compliant with UAE labor regulations, and employers must pay salaries through authorized financial institutions.
The concept of WPS is also implemented in countries like Saudi Arabia, where the system helps track and ensure that employees in various sectors receive their wages on time and through secure channels. Saudi Arabia has a similar wage protection framework to ensure workers’ rights and streamline salary payments across multiple industries.
5 Mandatory Professions for WPS Registration
The following five WPS-mandated professions require employers to register domestic workers in accordance with the new regulations:
1. Private Trainer
Private trainers providing fitness or skill training in households must be registered under WPS, ensuring their wages are transferred electronically and on time.
2. Private Teacher
Private tutors hired to educate children or adults in personal settings also fall under the mandatory WPS category. This registration ensures the teacher’s salary is tracked and protected.
3. Home Caregiver
Caregivers providing medical or general care to individuals in private households must have their salaries processed through the WPS.
4. Private Representative
Individuals working as personal representatives or assistants for employers must be registered under WPS, making salary payments transparent and timely.
5. Private Agricultural Engineer
Agricultural engineers working on private estates or farms are also part of the mandatory WPS professions. They have to use the system to send their salaries electronically.
Employers who hire people in these five professions are required to guarantee registration within 30 days of the employment contract being signed.
14 Optional Professions for WPS Registration
Employers are encouraged to proactively register domestic workers in the following professions, even if it is not yet required, to guarantee WPS compliance with upcoming regulations:
1. Housemaid
Domestic helpers are responsible for general household chores.
2. Sailor
Individuals engaged in maritime duties, possibly related to personal vessels.
3. Security Guard
Personnel assigned to protect private properties and ensure safety.
4. Household Shepherd
Workers overseeing livestock and related agricultural tasks.
5. Household Horse Groomer
Professionals are responsible for the household’s horse care and grooming.
6. Household Falcon Trainer
Trainers manage and care for falcons, often for sport or tradition.
7. Tamer
Individuals skilled in training animals, possibly including exotic pets.
8. Physical Labour Worker
Workers doing manual tasks and physical work around the household.
9. Housekeeper
Staff responsible for maintaining cleanliness and order within the home.
10. Cook
Individuals preparing meals and managing kitchen duties.
11. Nanny/Babysitter
Caregivers looking after children, ensuring their safety and well-being.
12. Farmer
Workers involved in cultivating land and producing crops on household property.
13. Gardener
Personnel tasked with maintaining gardens, lawns, and outdoor spaces.
14. Personal Driver
Chauffeurs are responsible for transporting family members and managing vehicles.
Though not yet a legal requirement, registering employees in these professions can help establish best practices and streamline the wage payment process in anticipation of future regulatory changes.
Why WPS Registration Matters
Employers comply with UAE labor rules and employees are paid on schedule according to the Wage Protection System UAE. It provides the following benefits:
- For Employers: The WPS in UAE guarantees adherence to labor rules, provides legal protection against wage disputes, and helps preserve transparency in salary payments.
- For Employees: By giving employees access to banking and remittance services, the WPS improves financial security, ensures prompt and complete wage payments, and offers evidence of salary for legal and financial purposes.
WPS Registration Process for Employers
To register employees under WPS in UAE, employers must follow a straightforward process:
- Obtain Required Documents: This includes the employer’s and employee’s Emirates IDs, employment contract, and a valid bank account with a WPS-approved agent.
- Choose a WPS-Compliant Financial Institution: For WPS, employers must register with a bank, exchange house, or other financial organization approved by the UAE Central Bank.
- Set Up Salary Transfers: The employer schedules monthly transfers through the WPS platform and identifies the employee’s wage as the payment due date.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Employers who neglect WPS requirements risk serious consequences such as:
- First Month of Delay: It is marked as non-compliant by the employer.
- Two Months of Delay: MOHRE may suspend the employer’s file, preventing them from hiring new workers, renewing work permits, or applying for visa services.
- Additional Fines: If non-compliance continues, further administrative fines and legal actions may be imposed.
It is recommended that employers register and process salaries as soon as possible to avoid these penalties.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Wage Protection System is a major step toward guaranteeing fairness and prompt compensation for domestic workers in the United Arab Emirates. By registering domestic workers in the mandatory professions and considering voluntary registration for optional professions, employers can align themselves with UAE labor laws and contribute to a more transparent and fair working environment.
Now is the perfect moment to ensure that WPS complies with the new rules if you hire domestic employees. Consult with OPS to make the process smoother and avoid penalties, building a solid foundation for your business’s compliance. Additionally, we will help you understand systems like the WPS in Saudi Arabia to create better transparency and best practices for wage payments in the region.
FAQs
Q1. Who must register domestic workers under WPS in 2025?
Ans. Employers hiring domestic workers in the five mandatory professions—private trainer, private teacher, home caregiver, private representative, and private agricultural engineer—must register them under the WPS system.
Q2. What happens if I fail to pay wages through WPS?
Ans. Employers who fail to comply with WPS may face penalties such as fines, suspension of the employer’s file, and inability to hire new workers or renew work permits.
Q3. Are there any domestic worker professions exempt from WPS registration?
Ans. Yes, workers who are part of pending labor disputes, absconding workers, or new hires within their first 30 days of employment are temporarily exempt from WPS registration. However, employers must register employees in the system once the exemption period ends.