Delivering salaries to workers “without deductions” under the wage protection system

Assistant Governor of the Central Bank for Banking Operations and Support Services at the Central Bank, Saif Al Dhaheri, said that the Central Bank has made amendments to the wage protection system, to ensure that workers receive their full salaries, in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

Al Dhaheri explained – during a dialogue session within the Financial Inclusion Leaders Summit in the Middle East and North Africa 2025, the first session of which was organized by the Central Bank over the past two days – that the Central Bank has redesigned the wage protection system, as once the worker’s salary arrives through the system, a message is sent to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, to ensure that the worker’s salary is paid properly, and in the event of a deduction or non-payment of the salary, the Ministry takes over the matter.

He added: “We found at the Central Bank that 80% of workers’ salaries are sent directly as transfers to their families, so we are trying to reduce the cost of transfers as much as possible so that they have the option of saving, and they are able to save part of the salary, and this is the first thing they get. The second thing is that they get the (Gion) card, which is the best local system through which they can make payments locally.”

He continued: “The segment of customers from the category of workers, or known as the (blue color) category, and other individuals, was present in all the studies that we conducted at the Central Bank, and we were careful when designing the financial platforms in the UAE that there should be no separation or distinction between the category of workers (blue color) and other individuals, and we made a preliminary decision that whether the individual receives 1,000 dirhams or one million dirhams, he must obtain the same level of (access) and benefit from all financial services.”

Al Dhaheri said: “The UAE has a very mature financial system, and banks provide many diverse banking services and financing that covers the requirements of individuals and companies,” explaining that 72% of the “blue” workers category have bank accounts through which they receive their salaries through the wage protection system, and many of them also have a financial portfolio or something related to their financial benefits.

Saif Al Dhaheri:

• We made a principled decision that whether an individual earns 1,000 dirhams or 1 million dirhams, he or she must have the same level of “access” and benefit from all financial services.