أسئلة وأجوبة
Can I claim compensation if my employer refused to provide me with a visa?
I live in the UK and have AED 60,000 of debt in the UAE from when I lived there 2 years ago. I receive letters all the time from a debt collection agency in the UK and today I received an email from the bank entitled 'Amnesty Offer' (although I'm not sure what that means)
I have no assets and no regular income, therefore, they can't get anything out of me at the moment. However, I would very much like to get this sorted, perhaps by paying off a fraction of the outstanding amount as a lump sum to settle the debt.
I would like to know if I can sue my previous employer as they are the reason I had to leave Dubai, and the reason I ended up jobless. They headhunted me, offered me a job in their company but then refused to issue me with a visa. They also gave me a fake employment contract.
I planned to stay in Dubai my whole life, but their actions meant I had to return home, with no job and no money. It is grossly unfair and I would like compensation.
Offer letter
According to the new UAE labour law, the employer has to present a standard offer letter, (which needs to be signed by the employee), to the UAE Ministry of Labour (MOL/MOHRE) in order to apply for an entry permit for the employment visa.
You may have a valid claim against the employer that offered you employment and later revoked the same. Normally all cases pertaining to employment is before UAE Labour Department, however, since you still do not have a MOL contract you cannot file a case before MOL and you need to file a case before the UAE court for breach of the offer letter.
You must keep in mind that an offer of employment may be treated as a contract IF both the employer and the employee have duly signed the same.
Under all circumstances you must file your Labour claim case within one year, failing which it cannot be filed.
Lastly please be careful about online scam under "Amnesty Offer" - means pardon.
