Q: Hi, I'm Sanu from Abu Dhabi, my job is medical coding. I need a clarification regarding joining the client of my employer. I have completed 3 years with my current employer (Billing Services DMCC, Dubai). My 3-year contract was expired and cancelled. Now one of my previous employer clients (a government hospital) is approaching me to join with them. I have already signed a non-competition agreement which has a clause - I cannot join my employer own client for 2 years. Please note, currently, the contract between my previous employer and this government hospital has been cancelled. Please advise is there any exception that I can join with own client as it is government sector? Is there a chance my previous employer can make a case against me? If they raise a case then how to survive?

س: مرحبًا، لقد كنت أعمل لدى شركة بالمنطقة الحرة في جبل علي منذ عام 2011 بصفتي مدير المبيعات الأول. ولقد طُلب مني الاستقالة بسبب ضعف أداء الشركة. ولذلك قدمت استقالتي. في الوقت الحالي، وبعد مرور ثلاثة أشهر حصلت على عرض عمل في شركة أخرى بالمنطقة الحرة في جبل علي. لقد وقعت على اتفاقية عدم منافسة لدى سلطة المنطقة الحرة في جبل علي عام 2011. لقد أخبرت صاحب العمل السابق عبر رسائل البريد الإلكتروني بإنضمامي للعمل في الشركة الجديدة ولم أتلق منه أي اعتراض شفهيًا ولم أتلق أي اعتراض واضح عبر الرسائل النصية القصيرة من صاحب سلطة التوقيع بالشركة. إنهم يتهربون من الرد علي. هل سيتسبب ذلك في حدوث مشكلة لي في المستقبل؟

Q: Hello, I would like to know if a non-competition clause also applies when starting a similar business in a niche industry. My non-competition clause is very vague and does not specify the area, industry and it's for 2 years. Does this hold up? And if it doesn't, could they file a civil case? Thank you!

Q: I was working for a company for more than 20 years and last January 2022 was my last working day. After leaving the company for more than a year, can my old company publish a notice in the newspaper now saying that I don't work for them? There was no financial fraud or any issues while leaving the company.

Q: Hello Everyone, I have been working with a client for the past year through a service company. The client has decided not to continue the contract with the service company, and instead, they have offered me a position through their consulting company, which I have accepted. I have also resigned from the service company, but on my last day, they pressured me to send an email stating that I would not be working for the client, either directly or indirectly. I have not signed any NDA or contract apart from the MOHRE contract. Now, the service company is threatening to take legal action and blacklist my visa if I join the client. Do they have the legal right to do this?

Q: Dear Lawyers, I need your advice regarding a non-compete clause in my contract. I left my former employer last September, and they were a free zone company. I have since started a similar business online with a Tajer license. However, my ex-employer is sending me emails daily, threatening to take legal action if I don’t close my business. Can you advise on my rights and the best course of action? Best regards,

أقرت دولة الإمارات إصلاحات تشريعية كبيرة أسفرت عن إدخال 40 قانونًا وتعديلًا جديدًا على قانون الشركات والقانون الجنائي وقانون الأحوال الشخصية وغيرها. تهدف هذه التعديلات إلى تطوير الهيكل التشريعي في مختلف القطاعات، وكان أحدثها قانون العمل. نحاول في هذا المقال إلقاء الضوء على التعديلات التي أُدخلت على قانون العمل الجديد وتأثيرها على كلٍ من صاحب العمل والعامل.

The provisions of this Law, known as "UAE Labour Law", govern the relationship between employers and employees and other labour matters in the United Arab Emirates. There are special labour related regulations applicable in some of the free zones in the UAE.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.

The provisions of this Decree-Law, known as "New UAE Labor Law", govern labour relations in the private sector of the United Arab Emirates. The New Labor Law repeals the previous UAE Labor Law (Federal Law No. (8) of 1980).