Wages Protection System (WPS)
Wages Protection System (WPS) is an electronic salary transfer system that allows institutions to pay workers’ wages via banks. It ensures that the employees are paid their salary by the employers through the banking channel, which is proccssed through the direct credit module system developed by the CBO. The WPS module promises to satisfy the reporting requirements for CBO & the Ministry of Manpower (MOMP). The system, developed by the Central Bank of U.A.E, allows the MOMP to create a database that records wage payments in the private sector to guarantee the timely and full payment of agreed-upon wages. The WPS covers all institutions registered with the Ministry across all sectors and industries and will benefit different categories of labor.
WPS targets the following parties:
- Workers: each and every individual who works in the private sector in return for agreed-upon wages and who has a labour card cssued by the Ministry of Manpower.
- Employers: whoever owns a company or institution registered with the Ministry of Manpower and hires one or more workers in return for agreed-upon wages
- Banks: the financial institution which the employer has a bank account with, which is used to transfer the wages amount through WPS to distribute to the labours.
Joining WPS requires:
- The company needs to be registered with the Ministry of Manpower; The Company should have a bank account with one of the banks operating in the United Arab Emirates.
- The company should enter into WPS Agreement with Tejara Capital to provide the service.
- Workers’ wages will be transferred via WPS by the deadlines specified in the Ministerial Resolution.
- Tejara Capital act as salary proccssing bank for employees who have an account with Tejara Capital only. We will not provide salary payment in cash to non‐account holders of Tejara Capital. In other words Tejara Capital and other bank employees will not pay salaries as cash to individuals who do not have an account with the bank, even if their employer has an account with us through the WPS system. Payments received without a valid account number will be rejected.
- For the salary payment to be proccssed through the WPS system, the employees must make sure that they provide their full account number to their employer otherwise the WPS system will reject the entire payment file, and the amendment will have to be done by the employer.
Registration
To register for WPS please complete the below listed documents:
- WPS instructions and file format reference guide
- WPS SIF
- WPS SIF Guidelines
- WPS Debit Authority
- WPS Registration Agreement
You can refer to the Ministry of Manpower web site for details on subscribing to WPS on https://www.manpower.gov.om/portal/index.aspx kindly note that this link is for employers only.
FAQs
What is WPS?
The Wage Protection System is a comprehensive electronic system between the Ministry of Manpower and the Central Bank of U.A.E. The aim is to protect the manpower (national and expatriate) that is legally prescribed for them and to ensure that their wages are received within the specified period, as well as providing a documented database on the wages of private sector employees
What do I need as an employer for WPS?
The employer must update data of the U.A.E manpower`s wages, through the Public Authority for Social Insurance (PASI), and consequently this data will be automatically updated at the Ministry of Manpower. As for the non-U.A.E manpower, their wages` data is updated through the service " Amendment of occupations and wages" which could be acccssed through the E-portal service of employers at the Ministry`s website.
The employer should also transfer wages through the use of the single wages file.
What is the WPS File Format and Guidelines?
Is the conversion of wages in the new standard form compulsory?
Yes, all private sector establishments are required to transfer their employees' wages, through this new format, as local endorsed banks in the Emirates will not receive wages` files in other formulas.
Is the modernization of wages for U.A.Es in the General Authority for Social Insurance reflected on the data of the Ministry of Manpower?
Yes, when updating the data in the General Authority for Social Insurance, the data are automatically reported at the Ministry of Manpower so that the basic wage and allowances data for the registrar are not lcss than the Ministry's database, except those with a pension fund independent of the General Authority for Social Insurance.
Is there a certain date in the month to convert wages?
The conversion must be the month's wages before the seventh day of the following month.
Is the company being held accountable if it transfers a wage to a worker higher or lower than that registered in the contract documented in the ministry?
No, where the establishment to explain why the transfer of wages according to the Registrar in the Ministry, but the worker has the right to submit a labor case if the conversion of the wage lcss than the contract of work.
How does the employer avoid wage differences from what is registered in the Ministry's database?
The continuous modernization of the wages of the non-U.A.E workforce through the Ministry's website. As for the people, the update is automatic through the cssociation with the General Authority for Social Insurance.
What is the formula for the wage information file?
The file is formatted as CSV (values separated by a comma). Click on the (file link specification file format file transfer).
Can the file be converted in any other format?
No, not pcssible.
How do I name my standard wage file?
The pay information file name is as follows:
- Payroll Information File (SIF) - The text used to identify wage information files (three fixed characters "SIF”).
- The Employer's Commercial Registration Number (not to exceed 17 characters or a number).
- Short name of bank (maximum 4 characters).
- Date of file preparation (8 digits consisting of four for the year, two for the month and two for the day)
- 3-digit serial number: Serial numbers starting from 001 to 999 to determine the file of the same employer in the case of multiple files for the same bank and the date of file preparation.
- Extension (CSV).
- For SIF Format Excel sample please click here.
Are separated each section subway line
SIF_1212635_BMCT_20170724_001.csv
Can I change the file name?
The file name cannot be changed, the file name must be according to the data in the file format.
Is it pcssible to transfer the employee's wages for more than one month in one file (for example, if the employee leaves the regular vacation and is awarded the following month's salary)?
No, the employee's salary cannot be converted for more than a month into a single file, since each file is for only one month. In case the employer wishes to transfer the wage of the worker for more than one month, each month must have a separate file.
What are the conversion cases that must be established to create a separate file?
If there is a payment for more than one month, each month must be in a separate file.
When the payment type is different, for example, when a group of workers is paid, and there is a worker or group of workers with an end of service, the wage transfer file is separated from the end of service file.
Does the system accept the transfer of wages other than Rial U.A.E?
No.
Can I use the zero in the extra hours, the extra income box and the discount column if there are no values or leave blank?
Yes, in the absence of extra hours, deductions, or additional income, or others, a (zero) value must be put in the boxes, which should not be left blank.
Do I have to sign new WPS Agreement with Tejara Capital?
Yes, after the deadline set by the MOMP & CBO the bank will only proccss salaries for companies who registered by the new WPS Agreement and Debit Authorization letter.