أسئلة وأجوبة
What can I do if my company is pressuring me to sign an unfair new contract?
Dear Lawyers,
I joined a company in Dubai. According to the contract agreement given to me by the company, if I leave before the fixed contract period, I have to give two months' notice and pay a sum of 6000 dirhams.
I agreed to this and continued to work under that agreement. However, the company has now introduced a new contract agreement, and all employees are under pressure to sign it.
The new conditions state that no employee can take a similar job in the UAE and must agree to pay USD 3500 (AED 12600) upon leaving during the contract period.
What actions can I take regarding the unfairness of this situation?
Dear Client,
You can raise your concerns formally with your HR department, documenting your objections in writing.
If the company insists on enforcing the new contract, understand your rights under UAE labor law, which protects employees from sudden and unfair changes to employment terms.
Additionally, you can file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) to address the unfair treatment and seek resolution.
The company cannot unilaterally change the terms of your contract without your consent.
The clause preventing you from working in a similar role in the UAE might be considered overly restrictive and potentially unenforceable.
The new penalty of AED 12,600 is significantly higher than the original AED 6,000, which could be seen as unfair.
You have the right to refuse to sign the new contract. However, be aware that the company might retaliate.
Try to approach them to remove these clauses along with the amount. If they are not willing, you can file a complaint with MOHRE.
If you need further clarification, you may ask us.
You can file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and you will be guided to the correct procedure.
The new agreement contains a non-competition condition, which means that you will not be able to work in the same job for another company, but this condition must be specific to a period of time not exceeding two years and specify the region, for example, Dubai.
