The United Arab Emirates is considered one of the countries in the world that provides the most job opportunities, and this is due to the abundance of financial and business companies in it. After many organizations and institutions launched programs to qualify Emirati youth for the labor market, it was necessary to regulate the labor market in the country and enact laws that would regulate this. The market achieves justice and equality between workers and company owners, in addition to protecting workers and children from exploitation. Yes, do not be surprised by this, as children under the age of eighteen become vulnerable to job exploitation. In any case, we will talk about the legal age for work in the Emirates as stated in the law. Emirati labor and workers.

About the legal age to work in the Emirates

In general, those under the age of 15 are not allowed to work in all sectors of the state, whether they are citizens or residents of the state, and therefore child labor in the Emirates is prohibited, while those between 15 and 18 years of age are allowed to work under the legal age, provided that A temporary work permit is issued to them according to the following conditions:

• Written approval from the juvenile’s guardian, or anyone who has guardianship or guardianship over him
• A copy of a birth certificate, or a certificate estimating the juvenile’s age issued by the relevant medical authorities
• A health fitness certificate for the required work issued by the relevant medical authorities
• In the event that the juvenile is a non-citizen, the resident juvenile and his family must have a valid residence permit, stamped on the passport
• The work in which the juvenile is intended to be employed must not be among the work prohibited by the current ministerial decisions, or the decisions issued in this regard.
• The facility/employer’s license must be valid
• Pay the required fees

Also, there are some other underage labor laws that regulate underage work for minors, including:

• It is not permissible for juveniles to be employed at night in industrial projects or in work that is dangerous or harmful to health
• The maximum actual working hours for juveniles is six hours per day, and working hours must be interspersed with one or more rest periods. Juveniles may not be assigned additional working hours or kept in the workplace after their scheduled appointments, nor may they be employed on rest days.

Work permits for students and training in private sector facilities

It is clear from the decisions and conditions mentioned above that the age limit for a work visa in Dubai is 18 years, while those between 15-18 years are allowed to work, but within the conditions mentioned above, as juvenile students were not allowed to work in the Emirates, but over time the Ministry issued Human Resources and Emiratisation issued a decision allowing juvenile students to work in private sector establishments, or existing and approved establishments for training purposes.

Work permits for juveniles

Students between the ages of 15 – 18 years are allowed to work and temporary work permits are issued to them. Emirati or expatriate students residing in the country can join work for a period of six months, subject to renewal. Temporary work permits can also be issued to students who wish to work part-time throughout the year. Employing young people in the Emirates is common and constitutes a training opportunity for them.

Student training permits

Students between the ages of 12 and 18 are also allowed to work in private sector establishments under training permits issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, where written approval is required from the trainee student’s parent or guardian. It is also required that the license of the facility that applied for Valid, free of notes and violations.

It is worth noting that students are treated like ordinary workers who work in similar conditions according to the UAE Labor Law for the private sector , in terms of entitlements and benefits, and when employing or training a juvenile, they must adhere to all controls, procedures, and the type of work permitted in accordance with the legal regulations in force in the Ministry.

Working and retirement ages in the private sector

Federal Law No. (8) of 1980 regarding regulating employment relations did not stipulate the regulation of retirement for workers in the private sector, nor did it specify a specific age for ending the employment relationship. According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the fee for issuing initial approval for a work permit for those aged 65 and over is AED 5,000 and is valid for two years.

Working and retirement ages in the private sector

Citizens working in the government and private sectors are entitled to a pension and other benefits upon reaching the retirement age of 49 years, or after serving for 20 years with the employer.

Punishment for working under the legal age in the Emirates

Out of its concern to preserve and preserve human rights in the Emirates , the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has approved a deterrent penalty against anyone who does not implement the child labor laws in the Emirates. Violators of these laws shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, and a fine of not less than 6 thousand dirhams will be imposed on them. Not more than 12 thousand UAE dirhams, or one of the two penalties.