Q: I am working as a trainee for an LLC company in Dubai since May 13, 2018, but I received my appointment letter as sales coordinator on June 2, 2018. I got my company visa only in Aug 2018. Until August, I was working on my visit visa, since the company asked me to do so. Now, I am under 6 months probation period. My job designation on the visa is Sales Executive even though I was appointed as Sales Coordinator. I want to quit my job desperately since I am unable to handle the work pressure. I am handling the sales coordinator as well as executive job and office jobs at the same time, but I still didn't finish my probation period. My employment contract is unlimited. So will I get a ban or am I supposed to pay visa expenses to the company if I resign before the completion of my probation period? Will I have to serve notice period if I resign? Also, what will happen if I am terminated? Please answer.

Q: Hi, I joined a company in Dubai free zone 3 months ago with unlimited contract and a probation period of 6 months. My current situation is that I am not comfortable with my current employer and want to come back to my home country. I have handled my resignation letter 10 days ago. My visa is still in the process of making and I have not got my passport back yet. The company does not want me to leave and now requires me to pay 30000 AED without giving any explanation. Could you please let me know if Free Zone Labor Law allows a company to charge employee resigning from work during probation period? What is the process of resignation from here? When should company return my passport? Regards, Karolis Griskevicius

Q: Hi Sir/Madam I have given resignation during my probation period (within three months), and I want to know if I have to pay any compensation to the company.

When an employee or employer mentions legal issues related to their labour relationship, the first question to be raised is: do you have a limited or unlimited labour contract? We try here to shed light on the relevant provisions of the limited and unlimited contracts in the UAE labour law pertaining to resignation, termination of employment, notice period and calculation of the end of service benefits.

Three new ministerial decrees containing a new set of rules for the labour market were issued by the UAE Ministry of Labour last year and came into force on the 1st of January this year. The decrees are expected to alter the contractual relationship between employers and workers in the UAE.

The UAE has adopted a major reform in its legislative system that brought about 40 new laws and amendments to the company law, criminal law, personal status, among others. The amendments aim to develop the legislative structure in various sectors, the labor law being one of these, was the most recent. We try in this article to shed light on the changes introduced with the new labor law and their significance on both, the employer and employee.

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.

This Decree sets the rules and conditions for the termination of fixed-term (limited) or unlimited (not term-bound) employment contract between employer and worker in the United Arab Emirates.

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).