Habib Bank AG Zurich
( Incorporated in Switzerland 1967 )
 



Wage Protection System

The UAE Ministry of Labour (MOL) in conjunction with the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has introduced the Wage Protection System (WPS) to electronically enable and monitor the timely payment of salaries. WPS is an electronic salary transfer system that allows Employers to securely pay workers' wages via Banks, Bureau De Change and other institutions authorized to provide this service by CBUAE.

Habib Bank AG Zurich (HBZ) is pleased to announce HBZwps, its WPS payroll solution in full compliance with the directives issued by the MOL and facilitated by the CBUAE. Click here to refer to the WPS Companies Responsibility Guide provided by the MOL and CBUAE. HBZ offers this service online through HBZweb and at its branches.

Key WPS points

  • WPS is a statutory requirement, Ministerial Decree 788 of 2009. Click here to refer to the Companies Responsibility Guide.
  • Payment of salary to staff will be done through authorized WPS service providers such as Banks and Agents.
  • The system is designed to increase competitiveness and entrench greater transparency.
  • Reiterating commitment to protect workers' wages by taking protective and proactive measures.
  • Providing innovative solutions that help Employers safeguard their own interests and reduce the time and effort needed to pay workers' wages.


Wage Protection System - CBUAE


WPS Mechanism Overview

Who are the Parties involved?

Registration of entities and/or persons is mandatory and allows for proper monitoring and dispute resolution.
  • Employers - an Employer in WPS is an entity employing one or more Employees and duly registered with MOL. The "Establishment ID" as provided by the MOL shall uniquely identify each and every Employer in the system.
  • Employees - an Employee in WPS is an individual under the employ of an Employer. Every Employee will be uniquely identified by the "Person ID" as provided by the MOL.
  • Bank (of Employers, Payroll Service Providers) - a Bank is an entity that is licensed by the CBUAE to provide financial services. Banks are uniquely identified by a "Bank ID."
  • Agent (Banks, Exchange Houses, Payroll processing service providers) - an Agent is an entity that provides the service of paying/disbursing wages to the Employees of an Employer. Agents shall be registered with CBUAE and shall be uniquely identified by an "Agent ID."

WPS salary processing overview

  • Customer submits a file to the Bank as per the required formats.
  • Bank transmits the file to the CBUAE.
  • CBUAE processes the data provided by the Bank.
  • CBUAE sends the salary file (if in order) to the Agent, who will then pay the salaries to the Employee.

How will returns be processed through WPS?

  • In the event, the Agent is unable to identify the Employee or his account, the Agent will return the salary entry with the correct reason(s) back to the CBUAE.
  • These returned entries will be passed on to the Employer through their Bank that processes the salaries.

How will refunds be processed through WPS?

  • The Employer requests a refund of their Employee's salary through their Bank. The Bank makes an onward request to the CBUAE who passes this information to the Agent.
  • An Agent can honour or reject this request but must provide appropriate reasons. In the event of a payment return, the amount is passed back to the Bank through the CBUAE. The Bank then credits the Employer's account.
Refer to CBUAE FAQs for further clarification.

HBZwps - WPS solution

HBZ offers a number of ways for an Employer to pay their Employees salaries in accordance with the CBUAE guidelines. This service is available for customers online as well as through our branches.

HBZwps Registration process

Mandatory requirements for HBZwps registration
  • Employer must have an account with HBZ. View Account Opening requirements here.
  • Employer (both existing & new customers) must register for this service. Click here to view HBZwps Registration Letter sample.
Additional services
  • Customer's Employees can also open their Employee accounts with HBZ. View Account Opening requirements here.
  • In order to use this service online, customers must have a HBZweb ID. To register for HBZweb click here or download HBZweb registration form. Additionally, an Employer must initiate the request for the HBZwps functionalities to be assigned, click here to download a sample application for the HBZwps functionality.
  • HBZwps is offered as an automated online solution that enables the Employer to manage their WPS compliant payroll through HBZweb.

HBZwps Salary processing options

Option A: HBZwps through HBZweb
HBZ is pleased to offer its clients an exclusive and secure online payroll system that enables them to pay all their Employee salaries at their convenience using straight-through-processing. Employers have the option to manage their entire salary payment processing online through HBZweb using single authorization (Parent login) or multiple authorization mechanisms (Sub-logins). Please note that the Employer requires an HBZweb login and an active secure key to use the online services. To register for HBZweb click here or download an HBZweb registration form.

Prerequisites for using HBZwps under Option "A" are as follows:
  • Enterprise Account required at HBZ. Please click here for account opening requirements.
  • Apply for an HBZweb ID. Click here or download form to register HBZweb if you do not have one.
  • Apply for HBZwps functionality through HBZweb. Click here to download sample request letter.
  • Apply for and activate HBZsecure Key.

Employers have two security-enabled options by which to pay WPS salaries through HBZweb:
  1. Parent Login: single authorization
    • Login with the HBZsecure Key.
    • Enter employee details online through the "Manage Staff Details" option.
    • Enter salary details through "Manage Salary Details option".
    • Confirm authorization after entering salary details through "Authorize-WPS" option.
  2. Sub-Login: multiple authorizations
    • Apply for a new HBZweb sub login ID online.
    • Activate the new ID and then apply for HBZsecure Key.
    • Activate HBZsecure key and then login with your HBZsub login ID.
    • Enter employee details online through the "Manage Staff Details" option.
    • Enter salary details through "Manage Salary Details" option and confirm.
    • Login using your Parent ID with parent HBZsecure Key.
    • Confirm authorization after entering salary details through "Authorize-WPS" option.
Note: Employers using HBZ for salary file transfer to other Banks/Agents will be charged AED 2.00 per salary account, where a minimum of AED 75.00 per file and a maximum of AED 500.00 per file will be charged. These fees do not apply to any Employee accounts maintained with HBZ.

Option B: HBZwps through HBZweb Upload Facility
HBZ enables its clients to upload files prepared by the Employer for onward submission to the CBUAE. HBZ has simplified this process by providing Employers with the following formats for ease of use. In addition to this, HBZ also accepts SIF format files in the event an Employer would like to use SIF format files.

Prerequisites for using HBZwps under Option "B" are as follows:
  • Enterprise Account required at HBZ. Please click here for account opening requirements.
  • Apply for an HBZweb ID. Click here or download form to register HBZweb if you do not have one.
  • Apply for HBZwps functionality through HBZweb. Click here to download sample request letter.
  • Apply for and activate HBZsecure Key online.
  • The File should be in Excel™ sheet. The cells should be converted into "Text" format.
To learn more about the HBZwps file requirements, click here
Employers have two security-enabled options by which to pay WPS salaries through HBZweb:
  1. Authorization through Parent Login
    • Login with the HBZsecure Key.
    • Upload the Excel™ file using the "Browse" option.
    • Confirm authorization after successful upload using "HBZwps Salary/Refund-Authorize" option.
  2. Sub-Login: multiple authorizations
    • Apply for a new HBZweb sub login ID online.
    • Activate the new ID and then apply for HBZsecure Key.
    • Activate HBZsecure key and then login with your HBZsub login ID.
    • Upload the Excel™ file and confirm.
    • Login using your Parent ID with parent HBZsecure Key.
    • Confirm authorization after successful upload using "HBZwps Salary/Refund-Authorize" option.
Note: Employers using HBZ for salary file transfer to other Banks/Agents will be charged AED 2.00 per salary account, where a minimum of AED 75.00 per file and a maximum of AED 500.00 per file will be charged. These fees do not apply to any Employee accounts maintained with HBZ.

Option C: HBZwps through the Branch
Employers can submit their salary payroll details on an external media such as a USB memory stick, CD, DVD and/or Diskette. The Employer provides details of the salary to be disbursed every month. The salary file should be submitted in the prescribed format as shown below. The external media should be submitted at their nearest branch with a signed "WPS salary payment letter". This will be executed within 24 hours.Click here to download the WPS Salary Payment Sample Letter.
Prerequisites for using HBZwps under Option "C" are as follows:
  • Enterprise Account required at HBZ. Please click here for account opening requirements.
  • Register for HBZwps service. Click here to download sample request letter.
  • Provide Employee salary file on multimedia.
To learn more about the HBZwps file requirements, click here

Note: Employers using HBZ for salary file transfer to other Banks/Agents will be charged AED 2.00 per salary account, where a minimum of AED 75.00 per file and a maximum of AED 500.00 per file will be charged. These fees do not apply to any Employee accounts maintained with HBZ.

HBZ Value Proposition

Benefits to the Employer

  • One solution for your payroll management.
  • Reduce risks and cost of salary payments.
  • Less paperwork with full audit trail, securely accessible 24/7 online.
  • Protection from falsified claims of non-payment of salaries.
  • On time salary disbursement to your Employees, thereby fully compliant with government guidelines.
  • Monitor and track salary disbursements through real-time viewing & statement downloading features.

Benefits to Employees

HBZweb provides Employees with 24/7 real-time access to their accounts.
  • Immediate access to salary and notification with customizable Event Monitoring Alerts.
  • Competitive rates for safe and secure remittance service.
  • Call +971 4 260 7999 to speak with your respective branch customer service representative.
  • Benefit from additional services and promotions.

HBZ offers this service online through HBZweb and at its branches.


Disclaimer: The information on this website is provided purely for general information purposes. Habib Bank AG Zurich disclaims all warranties, including but not limited to the timeliness, accuracy and/or completeness of the information provided, and its suitability for a specific objective.