Q: 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.

س: سيدي العزيز، أعمل كسكرتير وموظف مكتب استقبال بشركة بناء. انتهت تأشيرتي في الثالث من مايو 2017، ولم تقم الشركة بتجديدها حتى الآن. كما أن بطاقة الهوية الإماراتية انتهت كذلك، وصاحب العمل يقول أنه لا يملك ما يكفي من المال لتجديدها، لكنه سيفعل. وكما ترى، تراكمت الكثير من الغرامات بالفعل حيث مر على تاريخ إنتهاء التأشيرة 6 أشهر. لذا أود أن أعرف ما هي الإجراءات التي ينبغي اتخاذها لأضمن قيام الشركة بتجديد تأشيرتي؟

Q: I worked in the UAE under visit visa. The company owner has provided me visit visa but did not give me employment visa, and did not give me the salary. I came back to Pakistan. Please tell me how I can file a case under the UAE labour law when I have the offer letter which the company owner gave me, and how long will it take to lodge this case?

Q: I signed an offer letter with a new construction company and started working with them for almost a month. My visa is still under my previous company because it is still under process for cancellation. Now, I want to quit working with this new company because my boss is giving me a hard time. Can I quit my work without 1-month notice? Will there be any legal issues with me?

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.

According to this Decree, tentative approval to admit a foreign worker for the purpose of employment in the UAE cannot be granted until an Employment Offer that conforms with the Standard Employment Contract is duly signed by the employee and presented to the Ministry of Labour.

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).