Gratuity for Domestic Workers and Housemaids
Gratuity is an end-of-service benefits and an important right of the workers in UAE, the UAE domestic worker laws clearly demonstrate their rights. Gratuity for domestic workers can be a confusing because of the old law, and the new law differences and what you can follow to abide by legal regulations as employer and as domestic employee as well.
In this article, we will provide you with all the updated details for 2025 and understand if gratuity is a legal right and requirement of contract or not.
You can check Online Gratuity Calculator.
A domestic worker is the one who works for a private household for their domestic tasks including cooking, cleaning, gardening etc . There are 19 categories which is listed by MOHRE under the list of domestic worker and these are:
- Housemaid/Servant
- Guard
- Shepherd
- Jockey
- Sailor
- Falcon care-taker
- Cook
- Tamer
- Nanny/Babysitter
- Home Nurse
- Private Tutor
- Personal/Family Driver
- Private agriculture engineer
- Personal assistant
- Farm worker/Grower
- Worker
- Housekeeper
- Gardener
- Personal Trainer / Coach
Entitlements for Domestic Workers as per MOHRE are:
These are the entitlements should be paid by families,
- Payment of salaries
- Paid rest per week
- 30 days Paid annual leaves
- 12 hours of rest everyday from which 8 hours continuous rest
- 30 days sick leaves per year
- Possession of personal identification documents like passport, ID, Insurance card etc
- Cost of return ticket every two years.
The Domestic Worker Law 2017 – 2022: What has Changed – Complete Guide?
As per MOHRE Gratuity Laws for domestic workers are as follows,
Federal Decree Law 10 of 2017:
Article 26
As per Federal Decree Law 10 of 2017, which was the old law for gratuity of domestic workers, the calculation of gratuity was very simple, which is,
Gratuity = 14 days of basic salary for each year.
According to old law, workers become eligible for gratuity after continuous service for at least 1 year, and on the termination of contract.
Article 27
Employees will be deprived of gratuity if they do not complete their contract period and resign earlier, or terminated by the employer because of involvement in unlawful activities.
Federal Decree Law 9 of 2022
Article 22:
As law revised Federal-Decree-Law-9 of 2022, a new law which covers all the legal rights of domestic workers but this law remains silent on gratuity and does not reveal any formula for gratuity calculation and said that the cabinet shall adopt rules and regulation on end-of-service benefits in future and there is no clarity till now.
Is Gratuity Legally Required Right Now?
As in 2022 the regulations and updated law provided by MOHRE, the provisions of gratuity were omitted, and it is mentioned that the cabinet will decide what will be the rules for gratuity in future. It means for time being until the final decision will be made there is no gratuity.
Eventually considering the latest laws of 2022, gratuity is not any legal right for domestic workers.
Although at the completion of the contract the employer is bound to pay pending salaries, any unused leave day and any other payments as terms and conditions decided in the contract.
There are many employment laws which are common between regular workers and domestic workers, you can have idea by visiting New Employment Labor Laws.
What should be the take for families and their domestic workers?
For Families, as you know now it’s not your legal obligation to pay end-of-service benefits to your domestic employees but managing their expectations is key, and even if you want to reward your worker, inform them and mention it in your contract.
For Domestic Workers, gratuity is not a legal right any more so you have to plan your future finances accordingly, and if your employer commits end-of-service benefits take it as a positive gesture and it’s better that it should be written in your contract, but the matter is completely at the discretion of your employer as per latest law.
How to calculate gratuity for domestic workers using Formula?
The formula and method prescribed as per old law is still helpful standard to calculate gratuity for domestic workers and that is,
14 days salary for each year of service.
For example:
If your salary is AED 1500 per month and you served for 4 years, the gratuity would be:
( 1500 ÷ 30) ✕ 14 ✕ 4 = AED 2800.
You can calculate by using MOHRE eservice.
Obligations of families or hiring agencies at the end of the contract
Even gratuity is not mandatory if the families or hiring agencies not renewing the contract even then following are their obligations,
- Unpaid due wages
- Pay for any non-availed leaves
- Home ticket
- Experience Letter
- Identification Documents
- Visa’s Cancellation
Why should you still pay gratuity to your caretakers?
Although it’s completely at the discretion of families but it is a positive gesture and ethically and morally good practice that if you can afford you should pay gratuity to your maid and nannies, because:
- Reward for their loyalty
- Financial Support
- Moral and Ethical Practice
- Appreciation of their work
Key Takeaways
Even gratuity for domestic workers is not a legal requirement for families but still it’s a token of thanks to the workers as they served your family honestly for many years , a great memorable gesture and you should pay them if you can afford and you can easily calculate using the 14 days formula.
Being domestic worker, you should keep your hands clean, don’t involve in any unlawful activity, left job by serving appropriate notice period as per contract and keep all your employment documents and records readily available.
