Q: My two-year contract will expire in July 2021, and I resigned in January with a six-month notice period, as required by company policy. However, after I’ve sent the resignation letter, they've asked me to pay for my visa. They told me I needed to work for at least 5 years to cover all of the recruiting costs, which was sadly stipulated in my employment contract. As per my knowledge, employers are not permitted to reimburse any recruitment/visa expenses from employees. Furthermore, I will complete my 2 years contract so why do I need to pay it.

Q: Hi Sir, Please, can you help me understand the following below? I have been terminated from my company in Sharjah. I worked for them for 1 year and 7 months. They had made me sign one letter on their official letterhead that they have terminated me and will be giving a grace period of one month. This was a week ago. After this, now they have made me sign the cancellation letter for closing the contract. What benefits will I get? Am I entitled to gratuity and termination fee? Please, can you help me understand the Law of termination in Dubai, so that if in any part they wrong I could take legal action if required?

Q: Is it okay not to sign the termination letter given by the employer as a part of redundancy without any specific reason or prior notification? Also, can I demand 3 months salary as compensation?

Q: Hello, My cleaner's (laborer) visa is expiring in Nov 2021. I want to renew my visa with a new company. The old company which had given the visa is charging me 1000 AED for the cancellation letter. Is this legal? If not, how can I complain and get a cancellation letter at a proper price? Thank you for any guidance!

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).