UAE Labour Rules Mandate Free Job Experience Certificates for Departing Employees

According to UAE Labour Law regulations detailed by Emirates 24|7, private-sector employers in the UAE are legally required to provide employees with a job experience certificate upon the end or termination of their employment contracts, regardless of whether the departure was voluntary or involuntary. Under Article 13(11) of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, the document must be issued free of charge.

Dubai-based public relations officer Musa Dayani noted that withholding the experience certificate is illegal. The statute explicitly protects departing staff by mandating that the document must not contain derogatory statements, negative evaluations, or details that could harm the worker's reputation or limit their subsequent employment opportunities.

By law, the experience certificate must specify six core items: the employment start date, the end date, the total service duration, the job title or description of duties performed, the last wage received, and the reason for the contract termination. The document is commonly stamped by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).

Workers can also obtain an official employment history certificate directly through MOHRE's digital channels. Employees can log into the MOHRE portal (mohre.gov.ae) or its mobile app using UAE PASS, search for 'Employment History Certificate', and initiate the service to generate a stamped, approved digital certificate immediately.

Emirates 24|7 reported that MOHRE-issued employment history certificates remain valid for 30 days from issuance. Prospective employers can independently verify the authenticity of these digital records through the 'Employee Certificate Verification' service hosted on the ministry's website.