Labour Day is a good annual prompt for Dubai property owners to verify their FM, cleaning, and maintenance vendors are compliant with UAE labour law. Penalties for using non-compliant contractors flow to the property owner, not only the contractor.
What to verify
Valid trade licence, valid labour cards for individual workers, compliant working hours, accommodation that meets MoHRE standards, and accurate wage protection through WPS.
How to verify quickly
Request copies of trade licence and a sample of labour cards. Cross-check via the relevant emirate's portal. For larger contracts, an annual compliance audit clause is reasonable.
Why it matters for property owners
Beyond ethics, non-compliant vendors create risk of injury liability, sub-standard work due to under-trained labour, and reputational damage during property sale or rent inspections.
Vendor compliance annual check
- Trade licence current and matches scope of work
- Labour cards valid for site personnel
- Working hour compliance (especially mid-day work ban June-September)
- WPS wage payment confirmed where applicable
- Insurance coverage current (third-party liability minimum)
Why this matters
Compliance is good business and good ethics; an annual vendor review takes 30 minutes and protects everyone.