Employers warned against late payments to GCC nationals

 The General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) has urged employers to ensure the timely payment of contributions for GCC nationals working in the UAE.

These contributions are necessary for employees under the Unified Protection Extension System, which guarantees GCC nationals working in any GCC country to receive the same social security coverage as they would in their home country.

 Effective 1st July 2025, GPSSA will begin implementing penalties on employers who delay the payment of due contributions for their GCC national employees. These penalties will be applied in accordance with the deadlines specified by federal pension laws in the UAE, and are considered a rightful entitlement of the pension authorities in the employee's home country.

 Contributions are due on the first day of the month following the period for which they are owed, with a grace period extending until the 15th of that month.

 For example, contributions for July 2025 must be remitted to GPSSA between 1st August and 15th August 2025. A daily penalty of 0.1 per cent of the outstanding contributions will be charged for each day of delay, starting from the 16th of the month, without prior warning or notification.

 This decision activates Article 12 of the Protection Extension System Law and aligns with the outcomes of the 23rd meeting of the Committee of Heads of Civil Retirement and Social Insurance Agencies in GCC countries. This article mandates the pension authority in the host country to pursue delinquent employers and take legal action to collect contributions and penalties on behalf of the employee's home country pension authority.

 The Protection Extension System is mandatory, under which employees are required to register their GCC national employees in both the government and private sectors and remit contributions according to the insurance system of the employee's home country. The employer's share of contributions should not exceed the employer's contribution share in the host country, with any difference in contributions to be borne by the GCC national employee.

 The system was established under Cabinet Resolution No. 18 of 2007 to regulate social security protection for GCC nationals working outside their home country within any GCC member state. GPSSA oversees its implementation in the UAE.