Domestic worker recruitment agencies in the UAE have lost their licenses because they violated the hiring law. The two agencies are Shamma Al Mahairi Domestic Workers Services Centre in Dubai and Al Barq Domestic Workers Services Centre L.L.C in Ajman.

UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) said Wednesday: “These offices were found to have committed ... legal violations, which required revoking their licences and requiring their owners to settle their workers' status, fulfill their obligations towards both workers and domestic worker employers, and pay any fines that were due until the date of licence cancellation.”

The ministry did not specify what violations the agencies committed, but said it had notified local authorities to take legal action.

Any domestic worker recruitment agency found to be in violation of the law would be taken to task by the MoHRE.

Licenses for domestic workers recruitment agencies across the UAE are under the agency's supervision, and they "operate under clear regulations and systems to safeguard the rights of all parties and provide multiple services to clients, including unified pricing".

During December of last year, the federal government passed a law regulating the hiring of domestic workers. Emiratis and expats must only deal only with MoHRE-approved domestic worker recruitment agencies, which can be found on the ministry’s website. The ministry cautioned residents against dealing with unlicensed offices, “which carry legal consequences”.

For licensing procedures, agencies are required to fulfill several criteria in accordance with a ministerial resolution. Violating any of these conditions will result in the suspension of the licence. The same penalty applies to providing incorrect information or documents.

For feedback on domestic worker recruitment agencies, customers can contact the ministry's call center at 600590000.