The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) revealed that it worked with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority to close roughly 200 Instagram, Facebook and TikTok accounts that were illegally marketing domestic-worker recruitment in the first half of 2026. None of the operators held the mandatory MoHRE licence or the guarantee insurance that protects both workers and households. By targeting social-media advertising, authorities are moving enforcement upstream—before funds are transferred or workers are moved across borders. MoHRE inspectors now combine AI-powered keyword scraping with traditional field inspections of recruitment offices; once a suspicious account is verified, TDRA can remove it within hours. Officials stress that unauthorised brokers often bypass medical, security and contract vetting, exposing families to legal risk and workers to exploitation. Licensed agencies, by contrast, must use the state-run eChannel system, lodge a bank guarantee and provide a two-year replacement warranty. Employers who hire through official channels also receive standardised contracts in Arabic and English, making it easier to resolve disputes at the Domestic Workers Dispute Settlement Committees. For multinational HR teams, the crackdown is a reminder that home-help arrangements for relocated staff must be sourced only from MoHRE-approved agencies; any “social-media shortcut” could invalidate an employee’s residence visa or trigger fines. Companies are advised to circulate MoHRE’s list of licensed offices and encourage staff to report suspicious adverts via the ministry’s 600-590-000 hotline.
Source: Gulf Today
