The Wage Protection System (WPS) is one of the most important steps adopted by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation to ensure each employee working in the private sector receives full and timely remuneration. If you are an employer in Dubai, registration into WPS would be imperative to the requirement of any statute; rather, it becomes a very critical requirement toward rendering meaning to the concept of fair labor practices and thus protection of your employee rights. This article provides a step-by-step guide to WPS registration in Dubai.
What is the Wage Protection System (WPS)?
The UAE WPS is an electronic transfer of salary arrangement that guarantees protection for all payments and ensures that a worker receives timely payment of his complete wages. The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation introduced WPS in 2009 in cooperation with the Central Bank of the UAE. WPS is mainly aimed at protecting employees’ wages against employers and promoting a transparent labor market by making it compulsory to pay salaries through accredited financial institutions electronically.
A WPS Agent is an institution responsible for the distribution of employees’ wages under the WPS framework. It may be banks, exchange houses, FinTech companies, or any other financial organization that is registered with MOHRE.
The Functions of WPS in UAE include:
- Monitoring of fund flows.
- Acceptance of funds transfer from employer’s bank to agents with balances maintained at the employee level.
- Providing employee salary details to specific agents.
- This system shall provide frequent data feeds to the Labor Regulatory Authority for effective monitoring.
- Receiving and processing the following;
- Receipt acknowledgment from agents against wages to be paid to employees;
- Disbursement details from agents against wages that they have paid to employees;
- Refund request by the employer;
- Refund response by the agent.
Is Registering with WPS a Legal Requirement in the UAE?
All employers registered with MoHRE are required to subscribe to the ‘Wages Protection System (WPS)’ and pay wages to their employees through it, which is due on the specified date.
In this system, salaries shall be transferred into the accounts of employees in the banks or the financial institutions that are certified by the Central Bank of the UAE and are licensed by them to provide the relevant service.
MoHRE does not process any transactions or deal with the owners of companies that are not registered at the WPS until they are registered in the system.
Payment can be in United Arab Emirates Dirham, which is the national currency of UAE, or in any other currency if it is agreed upon by both parties in the employment contract.
When should employers pay salaries?
All institutions registered with the Ministry are required to pay the wages of their workers on time. Depending on the system in place, this could be accomplished through the Wages Protection System, or through any other system approved by the Ministry.
- The workers must be paid their wages on the first day of the month following the registered payday specified in the Employment Contract. A wage shall be paid at least once per month if no such date is specified therein.
- In the case of delayed payment, employers will be considered late if they fail to pay wages to employees within 15 days from the due date, unless otherwise stated in the Employment Contract.
- Establishments shall provide and supply all supporting papers to prove the payment of wages.
WPS Online Registration Platform in the UAE
Online registration for WPS is done through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) portal, which is the official government platform for employers to enroll for WPS, upload data of employees, and manage their compliance against the wage protection system.
The WPS Registration Process in Dubai
WPS registration is one of the prerequisites for any company set up in Dubai. The step-by-step process for the same is as follows:
- Company Registration: A company has to be registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
- Opening a Corporate Bank Account: A corporate bank account is to be opened with any UAE-based bank.
- Choose WPS Service Provider: Choose any one of the WPS Agents (Bank, Exchange House, or Financial Institution) or Opt for direct WPS offered by your Bank.
- Sign WPS Agreement: Sign the WPS Agreement with your chosen service provider.
- Gather Information on Employees: Collect correct information of all employees including data regarding their Bank Account No and Salary Information.
- Generate Salary Information File (SIF): Generate SIF containing employee salary details in the WPS format as specified. This can be generated via the software of the service provider or by your own system if compliant.
- Upload of SIF: Upload the generated SIF to your WPS service provider.
- Wage Payment Verification: Verify that all employees are paid on time with wages.
Essential Points to Note:
- Employee Consent: Obtain written consent from all employees to enroll them in the WPS.
- Monitoring by MOHRE: The MOHRE closely monitors the payment of wages for compliance.
- Penalties: In case of non-compliance with the WPS regulations, penalties will have to be paid.
- Wage Protection Law: Observe the UAE Wage Protection Law.
WPS Registration Requirements in Dubai
Successful registration for WPS will be dependent on the following:
- Bank account details: The company bank account details are maintained with an approved financial institution.
- Employee list: Details of the staff members with their respective banks or other financial institutions.
- Bank details of employees: The bank or any other financial institution in which every employee has an account.
- Salary Payment Date: The date on which salary would be paid.
Benefits of Registering for WPS in UAE
Some of the benefits that accrue from the Wage Protection System registration are:
- Compliance with UAE Labor Law: Ensure you are operating within the law and avoid penalties.
- Work Satisfaction: Guarantees correct and on-time wage payments; hence, this has a positive effect on high morale and productivity among workers.
- Transparency and Accountability: Increases trust between the employer and the employee.
- Less conflict: Fewer wage-related disputes and litigation.
Need Consultancy Regarding WPS Registration for Your Business?
WPS registration in Dubai is important to ensure timely and accurate payments of wages, demonstrate transparency, and comply with UAE labor laws. The procedure may become rather complex and time-consuming for new businesses or those that have never dealt with the legal requirements.
Farahat & Co. extends its help to you through years of experience in the Outsourcing of Payroll Services in Dubai, Human Resource Solutions, and other related Services Outsourcing. We will guide and help you with all processes of the WPS registration and the related compliance requirements, to ensure that all regulations are complied with, and to ensure that your workplace is harmonious, productive, and proactive. A team of highly qualified and experienced business consultants and accounting professionals, working for more than 35 years, stands by to fulfill all business needs.
For complete help on WPS registration and any other HR solutions, please contact Farahat & Co. today to help you walk through managing payroll in the UAE complexities.
