The employers are delaying my experience letter intentionally. What can I do?

Hii,

Thank you for your inquiry.

As per UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), you are legally entitled to request and receive an experience certificate from your former employer, even if several years have passed since your employment ended.

This certificate should include your job title, employment period, duties, and last salary, and must be issued free of charge.

If your employer is unresponsive, you may file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), which has the authority to intervene and escalate the issue if necessary.

Given the complexities involved and your need to submit this document to a Ministry for visa processing, I recommend scheduling a consultation so we can assess your case in detail and assist you with the formal steps, including correspondence and complaint filing.

Best regards,

Hello,

Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, you have a legal right to an experience certificate from your former employer upon the termination of your employment, even four years later.

This certificate must be provided free of charge and should include details like your start and end dates, job title, and a brief description of your duties.

Since your former employer is not responding, your recourse is to file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

You can initiate this process through the MoHRE app, website, or by visiting one of their service centers.

You will need to provide evidence of your employment, such as your old employment contract or visa, to prove your claim.

The MoHRE will then intervene to compel your former employer to issue the required letter.

Dear user

Greetings from Khalifa bin Huwaiden Advocates and Legal Consultations

Under the UAE Labor Law, you have the right to obtain a detailed experience certificate after the end of your employment. If your employer refuses to issue it, you can:

1. Send an official written request in a clear format.

2. File a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) to compel the employer to issue the certificate.

3. Keep all communications as evidence of your attempts.

Note: This is a free consultation, and the office does not bear any responsibility for this consultation.

For more details, we hope you can contact us via phone or WhatsApp.

Yes, you can obtain a detailed experience letter from your previous company in the UAE, even four years after you left the company. This is your right under the UAE labor law.

You have a legal right to receive a certificate of service even years after leaving your job.

If they don't respond, file a complaint with MOHRE with all the evidence of your attempts to contact them.

They cannot legally refuse or intentionally delay the issuance of a certificate.

Thank you for contacting us via Legal Advice Middle East.

Your situation can be addressed through more than one legal route, and the right choice depends on whether your employment records are still maintained with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) and whether the company is active.

We have handled a very similar case where a former employer refused to issue a detailed experience letter years after employment ended; we obtained the document through an official MOHRE complaint and supporting labor court order, forcing the employer to comply.

Under UAE labor regulations, employers are generally obligated to provide an end-of-service certificate upon termination, stating the duration of employment, last position, and duties if requested.

While many employees receive it upon leaving, you can still request it later, especially if it is required for official purposes.

If the employer refuses or ignores your request, you can file a complaint with MOHRE, providing proof of your employment period and your need for the certificate.

The ministry can then summon the employer and compel them to issue the letter; if they fail, the matter can proceed to the labor court, which may order its issuance.

The strategic step now is to gather your labor contract, resignation or termination proof, and any salary slips or MOHRE records, then submit a formal complaint through MOHRE’s Tasheel or online portal, citing your requirement for the detailed certificate.

We can draft and file this complaint for you, ensuring it includes the legal obligation and a clear demand for position and duties to be stated, so it meets the ministry’s job-matching requirement.

Our multilingual consultants speak Arabic, English, Russian, Hindi, and Chinese, and we can guide you until the letter is officially issued. For direct assistance, please contact our office via WhatsApp.