Q: Hi. I am here in the UAE on a visit visa. A company gave me an offer letter, but it's already 2 months since I'm working here and still, they did not process my employment visa. Now, my visit visa is going to expire soon. If they do not make my visa, can I file a case on the basis of offer letter? Where can I go for justice, and what do I have to do? Please advise me. Thanks

Q: I am Jasim. I filed one case against the company in Dubai Court in commercial dispute category. The company offered me a good position and told me to resign from the previous employer and at last, they sent me the visit visa and told me to join the company. They informed me they started my visa processing. After working for 2 months I did not get my salary and I came to know I was cheated and they had no visa quota due to pending salaries to the employees. Now I am in the 5th hearing stage in the Dubai Court chamber. Now, the judge informed me that my case will be rejected if I do not submit a case transfer paper from the Ministry of Labour Court to Dubai Court. What I have to do now? I had no visa to start the case in Labour Court. I went there first, but they told me to go to Dubai Court since I was on visiting visa.

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: Hello, I’m in Abu Dhabi under my husband’s sponsorship. He has his own company in the UAE. I’m officially part of my husband's company as the CCO, it’s mentioned on the website and on social media. However, we never made an employment contract and I don’t receive a fixed salary. Can I face any trouble for working illegally in the UAE or would this arrangement be considered legal? Thank you!

Q: Hello, Actually, I got a job in the UAE and right now I am working in a private company. Anyhow, I signed the labour contract without reading that because they didn't give me time to read it. But we forgot about that. Now I got the visa from the employer. I have mailed to my owner and management to send the labour contract copy of mine, which I signed already. But they are saying, it's confidential I can't send it by mail or anything. If you want to see that labour contract come to the Dubai office and check that. Right now I am working in Abu Dhabi. They are not even paying also. Could you please give me some idea? Is it a fact what they said, that sending a labour contract is confidential?

س: أنا من اليمن. عملت مديرًا إقليميًا لشركة إماراتية لها وكيل في اليمن. نظرًا للظروف في اليمن ولحاجتي الماسّة للعمل، عملت ثلاث سنوات تقريبًا بدون عقد، وفي النهاية تم توقيفي عن العمل بشكل مفاجئ وتعسفي بدون أي سبب ولم يُصرَف لي راتب آخر شهرين.

Q: In case you don't know if your contract is limited or unlimited due to your sponsor not giving you your employment contract, what do you do?

Q: Hi. My new employer renewed my ID and visa. The only thing is that when my Emirates ID and visa were done, they didn't show me any contract nor did I sign it. They didn't provide me with a copy of it. So I want to ask if I can complain regarding this matter? Thanks in advance.

س: السلام عليكم، ما الفرق بين عرض العمل وعقد العمل؟ أُرسل عرض عمل فقط وتم الإمضاء عليه وأنا حاليًا معي هوية لمدة سنتين ولا يوجد عقد.

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.

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).