Some Myanmar hotel workers in UAE reportedly facing layoffs

Some Myanmar nationals employed in hotels in the UAE are reportedly facing layoffs, according to Myanmar workers currently employed in the country.

Workers said some hotels have begun reducing staff due to a decline in tourist arrivals following Iran’s drone attacks on the UAE amid the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran.

“A lot of large hotels are carrying out staff terminations. Five-star hotels have more than a thousand rooms and employ many workers. When layoffs happen, hundreds of employees can lose their jobs depending on each department’s operations. Among them are Myanmar workers, along with employees from other countries. Although her hotel has not yet laid off staff, employees were recently instructed to take one week of unpaid leave, which was deducted from their salaries. Some hotels are also cutting other expenses. In the hotel industry, we mainly rely on service charges because they are higher than the basic salary. When there are no tourists, we lose those service charges and only receive the basic salary,” said a Myanmar woman working in the hotel service sector in the UAE.

Myanmar workers also explained that under UAE labour regulations, employees who have worked for a full year are entitled to one month of leave, while workers facing termination are generally given one month’s notice. When employment is terminated, the worker’s visa is also canceled.

“If an employee is dismissed, the employer gives one month’s notice and can cancel the visa. After cancellation, the visa remains valid for one month. Some people extend the visa themselves while searching for another job, while others move to another country through contacts and friends,” the worker said.

According to Myanmar workers in the UAE, extending a visa for two months costs nearly one million kyats, while monthly living expenses, including food and accommodation, can reach nearly two million kyats.

“Food expenses alone can cost between 800,000 and one million kyats per month per person. Room rent depends on the type of accommodation, but it can cost around one million kyats monthly. Sharing rooms with others can reduce expenses to around 800,000 or 900,000 kyats,” another Myanmar hotel worker said.

Some Myanmar workers advised people considering hotel jobs in the UAE to carefully review the conditions offered by recruitment agencies and seek information directly from workers already employed there.

“Right now, I do not want to encourage people to come and work in the hotel industry here. It is currently the summer low season, and even people who already have jobs are being laid off. Those planning to come should carefully check with friends and acquaintances already working here instead of relying only on agencies,” one worker said.

The UAE is one of the main Middle Eastern destinations for Myanmar nationals seeking employment in the hotel industry.