UAE Wage Protection System (WPS): Check Your Salary Status
The Wage Protection System is your strongest legal safeguard against unpaid or delayed wages. Every dirham your employer pays must be tracked through this system. Here is how it works, how to check your status, and what to do if something is wrong.
What Is the Wage Protection System?
WPS is an electronic salary transfer system created by the UAE Central Bank in partnership with MoHRE. It was introduced in 2009 and has been progressively strengthened. Every private sector employer in the UAE must register with WPS and pay employee salaries through approved financial channels — banks, exchange houses, or authorized financial institutions.
The system records every salary payment, including the amount, date, and recipient. MoHRE monitors this data in real-time. If an employer fails to pay salaries within 15 days of the due date, the system automatically flags the company for enforcement action.
How to Check Your WPS Salary Status
Check Your Bank Statement
The simplest method. If your salary is deposited electronically from your employer's registered business account, it is going through WPS. Cash payments are not WPS-compliant.
Use the MoHRE App
Log in to the MoHRE app with UAE Pass. Navigate to "My Salary" to see your registered salary and payment history. If your actual pay does not match, this is evidence of a violation.
Call MoHRE Hotline
Call 600 590 000 and request your WPS salary verification. They can confirm whether your employer is registered and whether payments are being made on time.
Red Flags: Signs Your Employer Is Not Compliant
- You receive salary in cash instead of bank transfer
- Your employer asks you to sign a receipt for more than you actually received
- Salary is consistently paid late (more than 15 days after due date)
- The bank transfer amount is less than your contract salary
- Your employer asks you to return part of your salary after transfer
- You have no bank account set up through your employer
What to Do If Your Employer Is Not Using WPS
Non-compliance with WPS is a serious violation. Here is what you should do:
Document everything: Save bank statements, salary slips, and any communications about pay
File a complaint through the MoHRE app or call 600 590 000
Select 'Salary Complaint' as the complaint type and specify WPS non-compliance
MoHRE will investigate and can suspend the employer's ability to issue new work permits
In severe cases, MoHRE can refer the employer for criminal prosecution
Penalties for Employers
MoHRE has a tiered enforcement system for WPS violations:
Verify Your Contract Salary
Upload your employment contract and we will extract your registered salary, allowances, and payment terms. Compare this with your actual WPS payments to identify any discrepancies.
Check Your ContractFrequently Asked Questions
What is the UAE Wage Protection System (WPS)?
WPS is an electronic salary transfer system launched by the UAE Central Bank and MoHRE. It requires all private sector employers to pay employee salaries through banks, exchange houses, or approved financial institutions. The system allows MoHRE to monitor salary payments in real-time and take action against employers who delay or fail to pay.
How do I check if my salary was paid through WPS?
Check your bank statement — if your salary was deposited electronically from your employer's registered account, it went through WPS. You can also verify through the MoHRE app under 'My Salary' or call 600590000. If you receive cash payments, your employer is likely not using WPS.
What happens if my employer doesn't use WPS?
Employers who fail to register with WPS or do not pay through the system face penalties including fines, suspension of new work permits, and potential downgrade of their MoHRE classification. You can report non-compliance through the MoHRE app or hotline 600590000.
Is WPS mandatory for all employers in UAE?
WPS is mandatory for all private sector employers with one or more employees. Domestic workers (maids, nannies, drivers) were brought under a separate WPS in 2023. Free zone employers follow their respective free zone regulations, though most major free zones also mandate electronic salary transfers.
My salary shows on WPS but the amount is wrong — what do I do?
If the WPS amount differs from your contract salary, this is a violation. Document the discrepancy by comparing your bank statement with your employment contract. File a complaint with MoHRE specifying the salary difference. This is one of the most common complaints and MoHRE takes it seriously.