The majority (88.3%) of private-sector employees in the UAE have benefited from the unemployment insurance scheme.
The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) recently announced that the percentage of workers covered by the unemployment insurance scheme has risen to 88.38% of the total targeted private-sector workforce.
The data made available by MOHRE reveals that the WPP has supported 17,758 workers, who received financial compensation during their unemployment period since the scheme became effective in January 2023.
Separately, more than 32,000 workers benefited from the Workers Protection Programme (WPP) over the past five years. They have received about AED289m ($79m) in wages and gratuities over this period.
The WPP – established by the MOHRE in 2018 – provides up to AED20,000 ($5,446) worth of insurance cover to workers if their employers cannot pay their salaries or benefits due to financial complications. The benefits cover claims related to unpaid wages, unpaid end-of-service benefits, and other legal entitlements.
The average amount paid to employees under the WPP was more than AED9,000, according to statistics from the ministry.