Promoting jobs, protecting people
NATLEX
Database of national labour, social security and related human rights legislation

United Arab Emirates >

Original name: القانون االحتادي رقم ( 8 ) لسنة 1980 يف شأن تنظيم عالقات العمل
Name: Federal Law No. 8 on Regulation of Labour Relations.
Country: United Arab Emirates
Subject(s): Labour codes, general labour and employment acts
Type of legislation: Law, Act
Adopted on: 1980-04-20
Entry into force:
Published on: Al-Jarida al-Rasmiya, 1980-04, No.79, p. 26
ISN: ARE-1980-L-11956
Link: https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_isn=11956&p_lang=en
Bibliography: Al-Jarida al-Rasmiya, 1980-04, No.79, p. 26
Federal Law No. 8 (1980) on regulation of Labour Relations and its amendments and orders issued in implementation thereof (in English and Arabic), 2001-04, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Social Solidarity Fund, United Arab Emirates, Ninth Edition, 255 p.
English translation (as amended up to 2001), Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Government of the United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates PDF PDF (consulted on 2008-11-10)
Abstract/Citation: Part I deals with definitions and general provisions. Part II regulates the employment of workers, young persons and women, Part III regulates employment contracts, records and remuneration, Part IV deals with hours of work and leave, Part V regulates industrial safety, preventive measures, health and social care for workers, Part VII regulates termination of employment and severance pay, Part VIII regulates compensation for occupational accidents and diseases, Part IX regulates collective labour disputes, Part X regulates labour inspection, Part XI provides for the penalties for a breaching the law and Part XII contains the concluding provisions.
Amending text(s):
  • 2020 (ARE-2020-L-111370)Federal Decree Law No. 6 of 2020 (the Decree) which amends Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended)
  • 2019-08-29 (ARE-2019-L-110291)Federal Law No. 6 of 2019 amending several provisions of Federal Law No. 8/1980 on Regulation of Labour Relations.
Implementing text(s):
  • 2018-12-31 (ARE-2018-L-108484)Federal Law No. 13 of 2018 Concerning Voluntary Works.
  • 2018-06-28 (ARE-2018-R-108483)Ministerial Decision No. 212 of 2018 Regulating the Employment of the UAE Nationals in the Private Sector.
  • 2018-02-28 (ARE-2018-R-108482)Ministerial Order No. 31 of 2018 on Developing a New Employment System Under Part-Time Contracts.
  • 2017-10-31 (ARE-2017-R-107191)Ministerial Order No. 787 of 2017 Regulating Teleworking.
  • 2017-06-11 (ARE-2017-L-107727)Federal Decree No. 10 of 2017 (1438) on Domestic Workers.
  • 2016-09-29 (ARE-2016-R-104217)Ministerial Order No. 739 of 2016 on Wages Protection.
  • 2016-08-15 (ARE-2016-R-104220)Ministerial Resolution No. 711 of 2016 Concerning Occupational Health and Safety Officers Employment in the Construction and Industrial Sectors.
  • 2016-07-31 (ARE-2016-R-104221)Ministerial Order No. 712 of 2016 Concerning the Incentives of Small- and Medium-Size Enterprises Members to Entrepreneurship Supporting Corporations.
  • 2016-06-30 (ARE-2016-R-104219)Ministerial Order No. (591) of 2016 Concerning the Commitment of Establishments to Provide Accommodation to their Workers.
  • 2016-06-26 (ARE-2016-R-104222)Ministerial Order No. 713 of 2016 Concerning the Employment and Training of Students.
  • 2016-03-15 (ARE-2016-L-104100)Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 on Child Rights.
  • 2015-09-27 (ARE-2015-L-101783)Ministerial Decree No. 766 of 2015 on the Rules and Conditions for granting a permit to a worker for employment by a new employer.
  • 2015-09-27 (ARE-2015-R-101784)Ministerial Decree No. 765 of 2015 on Rules and Conditions for the Termination of Employment Relations.
  • 2015-09-27 (ARE-2015-R-101785)Ministerial Decree No. 764 of 2015 on Ministry of Labour-Approved Standard of Employment Contracts.
  • 2015-05-18 (ARE-2015-R-101816)Ministerial Order No. 401 of 2015 Concerning the Determination of Afternoon Working Hours.
  • 2015-04-30 (ARE-2015-R-101817)Ministerial Order No. 293 of 2015 regulating the conditions of employment of UAE national workers.
  • 2015-04-30 (ARE-2015-R-101818)Ministerial Order No. 292 of 2015 regulating the conditions of employment of Gulf Cooperation Council national employees.
  • 2015-01-28 (ARE-2015-L-101815)Federal Law No. 1 of 2015 amending some provisions of Federal Law No. 51 of 2006 on Combating Human Trafficking Crimes.
  • 2014-11-30 (ARE-2014-L-98659)Federal Law No. 12 of 2014 concerning Auditing Profession Law.
  • 2014-05-28 (ARE-2014-L-98631)Federal Law No.6 of 2014 on the National Military Service and Reserve Force.
  • 2014-03-16 (ARE-2014-L-98721)Federal Law No. 2 of 2014 concerning small and medium enterprises.
  • 2013-04-03 (ARE-2013-L-95596)Federal Law no. 3 of 2013 Concerning the Establishment of Emirates Post Group.
  • 2012-10-10 (ARE-2012-L-92694)Federal Law No . 6 of 2012 Regulating Profession of Translator.
  • 2012-10-10 (ARE-2012-L-92714)Federal Law No. 7 of 2012 concerning regulating Expertise Profession before the Judicial Authorities.
  • 2011-05-29 (ARE-2011-R-89726)Ministerial Order No. 543 of 2011 regulating working hours outdoors.
  • 2010-11-29 (ARE-2010-R-106020)Ministerial Resolution No. (1188) for 2010 Regulations and Conditions for the Issuance of Domestic Work Permits.
  • 2007-11-13 (ARE-2007-L-81137)Federal Law No. 8/2007 amending several provisions of Federal Law No. 8/1980 on Regulation of Labour Relations.
  • 2005-06-28 (ARE-2005-R-71896)Ministerial Decree No. 467 of 2005.
  • 2005-05-30 (ARE-2005-R-106022)Ministerial Order No. (370) of 2005.
  • 2003-05-31 (ARE-2003-R-106016)Ministerial Decision No. 307 of 2003 on Collective Labour Disputes.
  • 2002-08-11 (ARE-2002-R-64696)Ministerial Decision No. 496 of 2002 on Contracts and Sub-contracting.
  • 2002-01-06 (ARE-2002-L-64697)Federal Law No. 1 of 2002 on use, monitoring and protection from radioactive material.
  • 1994 (ARE-1994-R-68122)Ministerial Order No. 1 of 1994 on increase in labour charges.
  • 1993 (ARE-1993-R-68121)Ministerial Order No. 155 of 1993 concerning additional charges on work permits and delay fines.
  • 1992 (ARE-1992-R-68120)Ministerial Order No. 70 of 1992 on the commandment of the employer to provide a bank guarantee to cover air tickets to absconding labours at the time of notifying such abscondment.
  • 1991 (ARE-1991-R-68119)Ministerial Order No. 13 of 1991 concerning the organization of the transfer of non-national labourers from one job to another and of sponsorships from one employer to another.
  • 1989 (ARE-1989-R-9234)Ministerial Order No. 52 of 1989 concerning the rules and procedures to be adopted at the work permit sections with respect to the recruitment of non-national labourers in the United Arab Emirates.
  • 1989 (ARE-1989-R-68118)Ministerial Order No. 18 of 1989 concerning the increase in work permits charges and the delay fines pertaining thereto.
  • 1987 (ARE-1987-R-68117)Ministerial Order No. 57 of 1987 on the licensing of mediation and recruitment, and supply of non-national labour.
  • 1984 (ARE-1984-R-68116)Ministerial Order No. 235 of 1984 to amend some rules of Ministerial Order No. 7/1 of 1981, concerning sectors absolved from the enforcement of working time rules.
  • 1982 (ARE-1982-R-68112)Council of Ministers Order No. 11 of 1982 to regulate proceeding and other rules necessary for the good progress of work before Conciliation Boards and Supreme Arbitration Board for the settlement of collective disputes.
  • 1982 (ARE-1982-R-68113)Ministerial Order No. 32 of 1982 on determining prevention means and measures to protect workers from work hazards.
  • 1982 (ARE-1982-M-68114)Ministerial Decision No. 37/2 of 1982 on the medical care which the employer is obliged to provide to his workers.
  • 1982 (ARE-1982-M-68115)Ministerial Decision No. 71/2 of 1982 on training of nationals in the existing establishment in the State.
  • 1981 (ARE-1981-R-57576)Ministerial Decree No. 6/1 of 1981 [concerning prohibited work for women].
  • 1981 (ARE-1981-R-68086)Ministerial Order No. 4/1 of 1981 concerning dangerous operations in which normal hours of work prescribed by law may be reduced.
  • 1981 (ARE-1981-R-68087)Ministerial Order No. 5/1 of 1981 concerning operations that are dangerous, arduous or detrimental to health and for which it shall be unlawful to employ young persons therein.
  • 1981 (ARE-1981-R-68088)Ministerial Order No. 27/1 of 1981 concerning regions and remote areas from towns which are referred to in Law No. 8 of 1980.
  • 1981 (ARE-1981-R-68089)Ministerial Order No. 28/1 of 1981 containing a model disciplinary code to guide employers in making disciplinary regulations applied in their undertaking.
  • 1980 (ARE-1980-R-57575)Ministerial Decree No. 46/1 of 1980 [concerning night work for women].
  • 1980 (ARE-1980-R-57577)Ministerial Order No. 47/1 of 1980 exempting some institutions from some of the provisions stipulated in the Labour Law pertaining to the employment of Women and Minors.
  • 1980 (ARE-1980-R-68080)Ministerial Order No. 45/1 of 1980 to determine the manner of spending proceeds of fines deducted from workers.
  • 1980 (ARE-1980-R-68081)Ministerial Order No. 48/1 of 1980 on the formation of a Conciliation Board for the settlement of collective disputes.
  • 1980 (ARE-1980-R-68083)Ministerial Order No. 49/1 of 1980 on the determination of the activities which require continuous non-stop work and regulation of methods to grant workers periods for resting, eating and praying.
  • 1980 (ARE-1980-M-68084)Ministerial Decision No. 50/1 of 1980 on the establishment of divisions for the recruitment of nationals and determining the rules and procedures to be complied with.
  • 1980 (ARE-1980-R-68085)Ministerial Order No. 51/1 of 1980 on the determination of expenditure of financial benefits accruing to an employer as a result of forfeiture of promotion or increment of deferment of increment.
Related text(s):
  • 2007-02-15 (ARE-2007-L-76823)Federal Law No. 7 of 2007 regarding the amendment of several articles of Federal Law No. 7 of 1999 regarding Pension Law and Social Insurance.
  • 1980 (ARE-1980-R-68076)Ministerial Order No. 44/1 of 1980 concerning rules to implement the organization of labour inspection of establishments on which the provisions of Federal Law No. 8 (1980), Law on regulation of Labour Relations, are applied.

© Copyright and permissions 1996-2014 International Labour Organization (ILO) | Privacy policy | Disclaimer