When Can I File a MOHRE Salary Complaint? Day 1, Day 15, or Wait?
When your salary is late, the panic starts: do I file MOHRE today, do I wait, will I make it worse? The reality is simpler than Reddit suggests — there's no 15-day waiting period, but timing still matters.
The Actual Rule
You can file a MOHRE complaint the moment your salary is overdue. No waiting period exists for a personal filing. Call 80060, use the MOHRE app, or visit a Tasheel centre.
The "15 days" you may have read about online is unrelated — it concerns the wage-protection-system (WPS) compliance threshold, which is between MOHRE and your employer, not a filing prerequisite for you.
The Smart Timing Strategy
| Salary 1–7 days late | Send a polite written reminder with a 7-day deadline. Save the message. Most cases resolve here. |
| Salary 8–14 days late, deadline missed | File the MOHRE complaint. Attach the unanswered reminder. Strong case. |
| Salary 15+ days late | File immediately. Add WPS-breach context — employer is now violating wage-protection rules in addition to your contract. |
| Multiple months late | File, and consider that you may be entitled to resign without notice plus end-of-service benefits. |
What You Need Before Filing
- Employment contract
- Last 3–6 months of bank statements showing salary credits (or non-credits)
- Payslips, if issued
- Your written reminder + any employer response
- Your Emirates ID
Use the Complaint Generator
A formal, bilingual EN/AR MOHRE complaint letter citing the right articles of Federal Decree-Law 33/2021 makes the filing significantly faster and the employer's response significantly more serious. The generator handles the legal language for you (AED 99).
Related Reading
Know Your Employment Rights
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Legal Disclaimer
RentShield provides general information about UAE tenancy laws and is not a substitute for professional legal advice. For complex legal matters, consult a qualified UAE lawyer. Laws and regulations may change — always verify current requirements with official government sources.