MOHRE Labour Complaint: Eid Holiday Salary Deduction — Arabic Translation

Your employer deducted two days’ salary — Eid Al Fitr. They called it a “leave deduction.” Under UAE labour law, it is a violation.

Public holidays in the UAE are paid working days. An employer cannot deduct salary for Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, or any other official public holiday. If they have, you can file a complaint with MOHRE — and if the matter is not resolved, escalate to the Labour Court.

What determines whether your complaint succeeds is not just the law. It is your documentation.

UAE Public Holiday Pay — What the Law Says

Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (UAE Labour Law) establishes that official public holidays are paid days off for all employees under the private sector. The official holiday list includes:

• Eid Al Fitr (3 days)
• Eid Al Adha (3 days)
• New Year’s Day
• National Day
• And other officially announced public holidays

Employers who require work on public holidays must provide an alternative day off or pay a 50% daily wage premium. They cannot simply deduct the day as unpaid leave.

If your payslip shows a deduction for a public holiday — whether labeled as “absence,” “leave deduction,” or anything else — that deduction is unlawful.

Documents You Need for a MOHRE Salary Deduction Complaint

Gather these before filing:

1. Employment Contract

Your signed employment contract states your agreed salary, working hours, and leave entitlements. If the contract is not in Arabic, have a certified Arabic translation ready. This is particularly important if the case escalates beyond the initial complaint stage.

2. Payslips for the Relevant Period

You need payslips showing:

• The month when the deduction occurred
• The normal salary benchmark (a payslip from the prior month showing full salary is useful)
• The deduction clearly labeled

If your payslips are issued in English, MOHRE accepts them at the complaint filing stage. The Labour Court requires certified Arabic translation.

3. Written Communication from the Employer

Any email, letter, or message from your employer explaining or confirming the deduction is valuable evidence. Screenshot and print these. If they are in English, include them as supporting evidence — have certified Arabic translation available if the case goes to court.

4. Your Emirates ID and Passport

MOHRE requires identity verification at every stage.

5. Proof of Public Holiday

The UAE government officially announces public holiday dates each year. MOHRE and Labour Court are aware of public holidays — you do not need to prove they existed. A printout of the official announcement alongside your deducted payslip makes the comparison immediate.

Filing the MOHRE Complaint

Online

Go to the MOHRE website or the MOHRE app. Select “File a Labour Complaint.” You will be asked to:

1. Enter your details and your employer’s MOHRE registration number
2. Describe the violation (salary deduction for public holiday)
3. Upload your supporting documents (payslips, contract, correspondence)

The system generates a complaint reference number. MOHRE will contact both you and your employer.

In-Person

Visit any MOHRE Customer Happiness Centre. Bring originals and copies of all documents.

What Happens Next

1. MOHRE contacts your employer
2. Both parties attend a mediation session (or MOHRE mediates remotely)
3. If resolved: the employer restores the deducted amount
4. If not resolved within 14 working days: MOHRE refers the case to the Labour Court

When the Case Goes to Labour Court

If your employer disputes the complaint at the MOHRE stage, the case is referred to the Labour Court. At this point:

All documents submitted must be in Arabic or accompanied by certified Arabic translation.

This is when many employees discover they are not prepared. The complaint was filed in English, the payslips were in English, the employment contract was in English. Now the court requires everything in certified Arabic.

Documents that typically need translation for Labour Court:

• Employment contract (all pages, including clauses about salary, working hours, and leave)
• Payslips for all relevant months
• Any offer letter that differs from the formal contract
• Employer correspondence about the deduction
• Foreign bank statements if you need to demonstrate payment history

MOJ-certified translation means the translation is stamped by a Ministry of Justice licensed translator with their license number visible. The Labour Court will reject translations that lack this certification.

If Your Employer Retaliates

Some employers respond to MOHRE complaints by terminating the employee. UAE labour law prohibits retaliatory termination. If you are terminated after filing an MOHRE complaint, document the sequence of events and file a second complaint for wrongful termination. The Labour Court can award compensation for both the unlawful deduction and the retaliatory dismissal.

If you are still employed during the complaint process, document every interaction with your employer about the matter. Written communication (email rather than verbal) creates a record.

Common Reasons MOHRE Complaints Fail

• Missing payslips: The complaint cannot proceed without evidence of the deduction. If your employer provides payslips electronically, download and save them — do not rely on email access you may lose.
• No employment contract: If you never received a formal contract, your offer letter and Wage Protection System (WPS) records are your primary evidence.
• Payslips in a language the court cannot read: If the case goes to the Labour Court, untranslated documents are rejected. Translate early.
• Complaining outside the limitation period: MOHRE complaints must be filed within one year of the violation. File promptly.

Contact Channels

For certified Arabic translation of payslips, employment contracts, or MOHRE correspondence:

• WhatsApp: +971 50 862 0217
• iMessage: +971 50 862 0217
• Email: info@onlinetranslation.ae
• Phone: +971 50 862 0217
• Walk-in: Palm Jumeirah Mall, Dubai

Send us the documents and we will confirm what MOHRE or the Labour Court needs. MOJ-certified Arabic translation is typically same day for payslips and standard employment documents.