MoHRE Outlines Six Exceptions to Workplace Injury Compensation in the UAE

The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has issued key guidance clarifying the specific statutory conditions under which an employee forfeits their right to financial compensation following a workplace injury or occupational illness.

While federal labor laws mandate robust legal protections and medical coverage for employees injured in the line of duty, MoHRE emphasized that compensation is strictly excluded under six distinct scenarios involving intentional misconduct or non-compliance.

The 6 Cases Where Compensation Is Excluded

Under applicable UAE labor regulations, a worker is not entitled to workplace injury compensation in the following circumstances:

1. Self-Inflicted Injuries: The worker deliberately causes injury or harm to themselves.
2. Substance Impairment: The injury occurs while the worker is under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or other psychoactive substances.
3. Safety Violations (Executive Regulations): The injury results from an intentional failure to follow posted workplace safety guidelines, as defined by the law’s executive regulations.
4. Deliberate Misconduct: The incident stems directly from willful or reckless misconduct on the part of the worker.
5. Refusal of Medical Care: The worker refuses, without a valid medical or legal justification, to undergo required medical examinations or adhere to prescribed treatment plans.
6. Disregard of Visible Safety Notices: Competent authorities confirm the injury arose from an intentional breach of safety instructions prominently displayed in visible areas of the workplace.

Medical Certification & Determination Process

Once medical care is completed, authorized health authorities are legally required to issue an official certified medical report. This report must detail:

• The precise nature and cause of the injury or occupational disease.
• The date of the incident and its direct nexus to employment duties.
• Total duration of medical treatment required.
• The assessed degree of disability (partial or permanent total disability).
• A final medical opinion on the worker’s fitness to resume employment duties.

Verification & Investigation Procedures

Determining whether an incident legally qualifies as a work-related injury involves a coordinated verification process. Upon receiving an injury notification, police authorities conduct formal investigative inquiries, supported by MoHRE inspectors where necessary. Official investigation minutes and findings are shared directly with the Ministry. While police and inspector findings provide essential preliminary context, the designated medical authority holds final administrative standing in determining whether an injury officially qualifies as work-related for compensation purposes.