The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has introduced a significantly stricter and accelerated enforcement regime for delayed salary payments under the new Wage Protection System (WPS) framework. Coming into full enforcement, the updated guidelines mandate that private sector salaries for a given month must be paid by the first day of the following month. Key changes include increasing the WPS compliance threshold to 85 percent of total wages due and granting expanded enforcement powers to MOHRE. Employers failing to comply could face severe penalties, including the suspension of new work permits from the fifth day of delay, and potential travel bans or public prosecution referrals for repeat offenders.
