Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
8 available 8 • View allFiling a complaint at MOHRE for receiving half salary only
7
Q: Sir.
I am a pharmacist in the UAE working in a company since May this year. I have an unlimited contract and in probation period, but all those months the employer paid me only half salary.
When I ask about this they are threatening me that they will terminate me and I have to pay the visa expenses.
I need some legal advice regarding this.

Sep 12, 2018
3900
Shortfall of salary and non-payment of settlement upon resignation
1
Q: Hi
I was working with a company for last 3.10 years. In 2018 and because of the financial problems, the company was struggling to pay salaries to the employees and most of the employees got terminated or resigned.
I also started searching for a new job as I was getting half of my salary for 6 months. Fortunately, I got a new job and the company asked me to join immediately.
I requested my current company to cancel my visa as soon as possible and they agreed. I cancelled my family visa and they ask me to sign the cancellation paper and the settlement will be processed within 2 weeks.
Because of the urgency, I signed the paper by believing the company. But now they are not paying the amount and simply avoiding me with some excuses.
I was struggling with my family for 6 months with half a salary and now they cheated me also.
Please advise me, what do I need to do with this?

Feb 26, 2019
1314
The right legal action for claiming salary shortfalls
0
Q: For the last 2 years, I worked for a contracting firm.
My salary was AED 8000/month but usually, my employer used to give me 2-3k monthly or sometimes less than this. The salary transaction is easily reflect-able on my salary statement.
I filed a case in the labour court against my employer for my visa cancellation and due salary payment 3 days ago, but he is not in the mood of settlement.
What action should I take against him?

Aug 30, 2018
1089
Deduction of the annual leave and reducing salary
3
Q: Sir,
I joined a private company in 27/09/2014 on an unlimited contract. Based on the basic AED 2000 & HRA 3500 (Total AED 5500), I got the annual leave salary up to Sep 2018.
In August 2019, the company reduced my basic to AED 1500 & HRA as AED 2500 (Total AED 4000). My accumulated leave was from 1st Oct 2018.
I applied for my vacation and it was approved but the company wants to consider the revised salary (Basic & HRA) also.
Now the company wants to consider the new salary and deduct the excess paid before as leave salary since the basic and accommodation is lowered as mentioned excess paid during previous leave salary.
Recently my company reduced basic and HRA from 01/08/2019.

Sep 18, 2019
1390
Filing a case against an employer because of payout reduction
1
Q: The company I work for was sold at a loss. The employer is saying that the employees need to accept a reduction in their payouts to share the burden.
The employer is not based in the UAE. If I go to court and win, what can I do to ensure that the employer will pay if he is not based in the UAE and he says that he does not have money to pay?

Mar 7, 2020
639
Can the employee refuse to move to another job location if asked by the employer?
9
Q: Hi,
Good day!
I just want to ask a question, My contract is unlimited and working with my company for 3 years already here in Dubai. My job is Office Assistant and the office I'm working with didn't renew the contract from my company.
Now, my company wants to send me to another Emirate which is Ras Al Khaimah. But I refused the offer because it very far and in my contract, it's written “The second party shall work for the first party in the job/profession within the UAE (Emirate Name: Dubai).
My question is do I have the right to refuse?
And if my company terminates me, do I have the rights to get my benefits and gratuity?
Thank you so much Sir/Ma'am!

Feb 9, 2021
2372
Forcing an employee to sign a paper before receiving his dues
1
Q: Hello,
To anyone who has a good heart to provide me free legal advice for my concern. My company is forcing me to sign an Arabic suing letter and it is really against my will since when I asked my friends to translate it, it was different from what I said and explained.
Now they are threatening me that I will go to jail, They don't want to process my vacation leave, vacation pay, gratuity, and even my 2 months delayed salary unless I sign the paper.
This week is also my wife's delivery for which an original passport is required, but they don't want to release my passport.
I think they broke a lot of UAE law since these actions that I mentioned are really against UAE Law.

Jul 12, 2021
424
Terminating an employment unlimited contract due to salary deduction
3
Q: Respected Lawyers,
My employer is deducting AED 3000 from my salary every month while my contract is not changed for the deduction. I have the following questions regarding this point:
1. Can I claim these AED 3000 from my employer via a labor case?
2. If I file a case in the labor against my employer, can my employer terminate/cancel my contract during the case or does he have to wait until my case is resolved?
3. What is the maximum time limit for a case to be resolved?
My contract is unlimited.
Thanks!

Feb 6, 2022
338
Legal blog
3 available 3 • View allHow to File an Employment Court Case in the UAE 36
An interview-format article covering the topic of filing an employment court case in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.
May 10, 2021
11307
An Overview of the New UAE Labor Law and Recent Amendments of 2024 233
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.
Sep 10, 2024
92112
IBAN Number and Bank Transfers 3
Due to the large number of individual and commercial banking transactions and transfers they carry out from one country to another or within the same country, we present here a quick glance at the importance of bank account numbers and not the names of beneficiaries when making bank transfers in accordance with the law and Central Bank regulations.
Apr 24, 2024
601
Laws & Regulations
2 available 2 • View allFederal Law No. (8) of 1980 Concerning the Regulation of Labor Relations 53
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.
Apr 20, 1980
103726
Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2021 On the Regulation of Labor Relations 34
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).
Sep 20, 2021
26832

Other answers by
Options for dealing with a divorce case while being abroad 2
Is it possible to have a divorce case and leave the country?
Do I have to stay in the UAE if the divorce is still not done?
The procedures are very slow and I cannot be in the UAE in the upcoming months.
What are the options for dealing with the divorce and the court while being abroad?
Jun 29, 2020
1273
Filing bounced cheques cases to force payment 0
What is the jail term for a criminal case of a cheque totalling amount of 1,330,000/-, 9 cheques of AED 40,000/-, 12 cheques of AED 50,000/-, 1 cheque of AED 120,000/- (all on the personal name), & 1 cheque of AED 250,000/- (on the company's name) in Sharjah?
Could we file a civil suit for the same as the person doesn't get released until he pays & clears the cheque amounts?
Are we also eligible to claim the damages & losses?
How much could be claimed for damages?
Please define with your best knowledge.
Thanking you for your kind cooperation.
Jun 8, 2020
537
How to guarantee my right in accrued leave days or payment 1
Dear Sir,
My contract is a fulltime employee for a company in the UAE, and my leave entitlement state 10 weeks work and 2 weeks off.
However, due to the COVID-19, I have been unable to take that leave and have accrued two months leave or 61 days with four flight tickets.
My question is, can my company legally cancel those accrued days at the start of the new year or would they have to pay me for those days?
Jun 4, 2020
590
How to guarantee labour rights before signing the cancellation paper 1
Good morning All,
I was terminated by my company in March 2020 for not signing the unpaid leave document given to me. I was terminated on 23rd March 2020.
Once termination letter was signed, ever since then, I have been chasing my ex-company for releasing the final settlement and each time they come up with a different plan.
The last option they gave was to sign an agreement with them for 6 months plan but are not giving me any guarantee cheques and insist that I sign the cancellation papers. I want to simply take my money and leave the UAE.
They have also directed me to their lawyers now who insist that any agreement signed with the company is not required to be notarized by Dubai Courts and the company is not legally bound to give me any cheques as a guarantee.
The company that I worked for is located in Dubai and is a private organisation.
Jun 4, 2020
531
Following up on a labor case after traveling to the home country 2
After working for my employer for nearly two years on an unlimited contract as a COO of a restaurant company, my employer owes me approx 193000, not including notice period.
I have filed a case with the MOHRE. They have tried to contact the employer who has ignored the calls and is also ignoring me.
I know that I will have to escalate the complaint but, based on experience with the way the employer treats past employees and how he ignores suppliers and landlords, it is fair to assume that he will ignore this as well.
I have little options and I have to leave the country as the apartment rent paid by the company expires mid-July. If I leave, can I maintain the complaint, and what is the likelihood of getting the money owed in this scenario when I travel back to the UK?
Jun 4, 2020
1595

Premium
Other answers by
Employer agreed to settle before MOHRE. What if they don’t pay the promised amount? 0
Hello,
I already have a dispute order with MOHRE. Then my employer became willing to settle the case.
What should I do in case they do not follow through with the promised amount to pay?
Apr 29, 2025
5
After 11 months of work, how many leave days is an employee entitled to? 0
Hello,
I want to inquire regarding my leave privileges. I am now 11 months in my company. How many leaves am I privileged to?
Based on Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 regulating labour relations and its executive regulations, you are entitled to a paid weekly rest for not less than one day, as specified in the work contract or the work regulation.
The Council of Ministers may increase the weekly rest day stipulated in this article. The Decree-Law and its executive regulations also stipulate that you are entitled to an annual leave with full pay as follows:
- Thirty days for each year of your extended service.
- Two days per month in respect of any employee with more than six months and less than one year of service.
- Leave for parts of the last year of your service in case it is terminated before you use your annual leave balance.
Now my question is: do I have 22 days I can use? Can someone explain to me in detail?
Thank you!
Apr 28, 2025
30
Can I sell branded replica watches online, not in a physical store? 0
Hello,
Can I sell branded replica watches online, on Facebook Marketplace, etc.?
Not in a physical store, just online.
Apr 27, 2025
27
What can I do if my neighbors are constantly doing construction work and constantly drilling? 0
I live in a townhouse with a shared wall with my neighbors. They are constantly doing construction work and constantly drilling on the shared wall.
They said it will last for 2 months, working 6 days a week. It is driving us crazy, and there is no way to live this way, and I have to work from home.
I am very stressed. What is the immediate solution, please?
Apr 25, 2025
39
هل يسجل الطفل قانونياً بالإمارات في حال كان الفرق بين عقد الزواج الشرعي والولادة تقريباً 166 يوم أقل من 6 أشهر؟ 0
السلام عليكم
هل يسجل الطفل قانونياً بالإمارات (أب إماراتي يحمل جواز من الشارقة ، أم وافدة) في حال كان الفرق بين عقد الزواج الشرعي والولادة تقريباً 166 يوم أقل من 6 أشهر؟
هل يمنع من استخراج شهاده ميلاد؟ وما هي الإجراءات والعقوبات المتوقعة؟
مع العلم بأن الأب معترف بالطفل قبل الزواج وبعده.
شكراً
Apr 25, 2025
18
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