WPS Salary Delay Complaint: What to Do if Your Pay Is Late?
Under the UAE’s Wage Protection System, salaries are due on the first of the month, and the old 15-day grace period has been removed. If your pay is late, file a salary-delay complaint in the MOHRE app or on 600 590 000. If wages go unpaid for 60 days, you can resign without notice and without a labour ban.
- Message or call MOHRE on 600 590 000.
- File a salary-delay complaint in the MOHRE app.
- Keep proof of every missed or late payment.
What is WPS, and when is your salary late?
The Wages Protection System (WPS) is the electronic system that requires private-sector employers to pay salaries through approved banks and exchange houses, so the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) can monitor that wages are actually being paid. It is what turns “my employer says the money is coming” into something MOHRE can see and act on.
Under rules that took effect on 1 June 2026, wages must be paid by the first day of each calendar month. The previous 15-day grace period has been abolished, so the due date and the deadline are now the same day. Any salary not transferred through WPS after that is officially classified as delayed, you do not have to wait weeks before it counts as late.
The new enforcement timeline (2026)
One reason to act is that MOHRE now acts too. The system escalates automatically against an employer who does not pay, on a fixed schedule.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Payday (the 1st) | Salary is due; MOHRE sends a reminder if it is unpaid |
| Day 3 and Day 10 | Further automatic reminders go to the employer |
| Day 15 | Wages still not transferred through WPS are officially late |
| Day 17 | MOHRE suspends new work permits for the company |
| Day 30 | For companies with 50 or more staff, Public Prosecution is notified |
Employers also face fines for non-compliance. The point for you as an employee is that a delay is not just your problem to chase, once the deadline passes, the system is already working against the employer, and your complaint adds a formal record to it.
How to file a salary-delay complaint?
Raising a wage complaint is free and quick. The fastest route is the MOHRE app, but you have options.
- Open the MOHRE app or eServices portal, sign in with UAE Pass, and choose Labour Complaint, selecting the wage or salary type.
- Confirm your auto-filled employment details and describe the missed payments and dates.
- Submit and confirm with the OTP, then track it under “My Complaints” using your reference number.
You can also call or message MOHRE on 600 590 000, which is reachable by WhatsApp as well as phone. A wage claim must be filed within two years of the salary becoming due, after which the right to claim is lost. From there it follows the standard MOHRE complaint process, employer response, mediation, and, if needed, the Labour Court.
Your rights if salary goes unpaid
A short delay is one thing; a sustained one changes your options. Under Article 45 of the labour law, if your employer does not pay your wages for 60 consecutive days, despite your follow-ups, you are entitled to resign without serving notice. You can do it without a labour ban, because the resignation is for a legitimate reason.
If you go that route, notify MOHRE in advance so your resignation is recorded as justified, and keep evidence of the unpaid wages and your follow-ups. Whenever your employment ends, your employer must settle all final dues within 14 days of your last working day.
To understand the wider rules around notice, pay, and resignation, see our guide to UAE labour law in 2026, and a salary certificate can help document what you are owed. The full set of options is in our UAE work and labour guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is my salary officially considered late in the UAE?
Since 1 June 2026, wages are due on the first day of the month and the old 15-day grace period has been removed, so payment is late as soon as it is not transferred through WPS by the deadline. MOHRE’s system treats wages still unpaid by day 15 as officially late and begins penalising the employer from day 17.
How do I report a salary delay in the UAE?
File a labour complaint in the MOHRE app or eServices portal under the wage or salary type, or call and message MOHRE on 600 590 000. The service is free, and you track it under “My Complaints” with your reference number. Keep records of every missed payment, as evidence strengthens the case.
Can I resign without a ban if my salary is unpaid?
Yes. Under Article 45, if wages remain unpaid for 60 consecutive days despite your follow-ups, you can resign without serving notice and without facing a labour ban, because it counts as a justified resignation. Notify MOHRE in advance and keep proof of the unpaid wages so your position is properly recorded.
How long do I have to claim unpaid wages?
A wage claim must be filed within two years of the date the salary became due. After that window, the right to claim is lost regardless of how strong the case is. Separately, when your employment ends, your employer must pay all outstanding dues within 14 days of your last working day.
Last verified: July 2026
Reviewed by: UAEexplained editorial team
Source: Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE); UAE Government Portal (u.ae)
