Q: Is it possible to terminate a 2-year-contract after one year due to low performance? The contract states that only reasons stated in article 120 Labor Law apply.

Q: Hello & Ramadan Kareem, I'm working in JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone) as a Regional Manager on a limited contract ending in 2019. I shall be completing 1 year on 16 June 2017. My Management is pressuring me to submit my resignation (with a 30-days notice i.e. defined in their offer letter) as they say I have not delivered the annual sales targets. Since I refused, the HR Manager called & threatened me with "consequences". My JAFZA contract clearly mentions 90 days notice period. Now they say that if I resign, they can offer me 90 days compensation with no gratuity & other benefits. Could you please advise, what should I do?

Q: Dear Sir, I am working in a company as Manager and the limited contract would be expired on Dec 29, 2017. 10 days before, I received a notice from the employer that they are not interested to renew my contract, without stating a reason. After inquiry, they mentioned that it is due to the restructuring and not related to performance. Since I have a family and kids are going to school, we are under severe pressure. I am in a senior position and it would be difficult to find out a job in 45 days, which puts me and my family in severe mental trauma. Please let me know if I can request the company to renew my contract until I find a job with a minimum salary as maintenance allowance. I am in the UAE since last 11 years and this is the first situation where I am passing through. Please advice and let me know what are my rights. Thanks and regards.

Q: My company was taken over by another company. The management of the new company assured us, old employees, that we won't be terminated. My visa got expired on the first week of November 2017. So I asked my boss about the renewal and he assured me that it's a long process and might take time for the renewal. On the 1st week of December, I was called along with some other staff to the head office, got informed that they are not going to renew our contracts and we have to stop going to work. I have an unlimited contract. The company did not give us any notice in advance nor did they make us sign on any papers and we did not receive any termination letter. In this situation, I would like to know our rights as per the labour law. I am still searching for a job and I have a loan with the bank. Appreciate your advice in advance.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam I am a Relationship Manager In a bank in Dubai. My employer has terminated my services (discontinuation of services) with reason as unsatisfactory performance during 2017. They have given me 30 days' notice period and have mentioned in the letter that I am exempted from attending office during the notice period. I seek your valuable advice, can I claim 3 months' full salary for my such termination where it was done all of sudden without alerting me with warning letters. Also if you can advise me how to file a case against the employer in order to claim 3 months' salary. Thanks and regards

Q: Hi, My employer terminated my fixed term contract (which also has a 30 day notice period). They are ignoring all communication and refusing to pay the outstanding salary and end of service (3 months). They said if this goes to court they will claim financial hardship however the company is still trading. Any advice on options or entitlements? The claim amount is over AED 200k.

Q: Hello Atty, I am a Sales Executive here in the UAE and my second two-year contract from my current company has already expired. I need your help. My contract expired last June 3, 2018, and before that, I asked them about my renewal and they told me after Ramadan. Now, that I follow-up, They will renew my contract but they want to deduct my salary, which I am not willing to accept. We did not discuss any of these changes before my contract expires. If I am not going to accept this offer, what are the things that I am legally entitled to get from my previous company? Moreover, I still have pending commission since 2016 out of our "gentleman's agreement". Every 2% of the paid invoices will be paid as my commission. Now that I am trying to get it, he told me that the amount is too big and he can't give it to me. I was trying to get my commission since 2016 but he always has a reason to delay it. Is there any way for me to get it? I have proof/records that I am getting the commission. Thanks in advance

Q: I'm employed in the private sector with a limited-term contract valid from 22.04.2019 to 21.04.2021. Once I signed that contract, the company manager told me to sign one more employment contract valid from 01.05.2019 to 31.12.2019 saying this contract is for headquarters located outside the UAE. That contract was on company letterhead paper only, not thru MOHRE. I signed it and later found out it is not legally binding in the UAE. Now, they are offering me the same type of contract again, valid form 01.01.2020 to 31.12.2020 with a reduced salary. However, I do not want to accept this salary. If I do not sign this contract, they will terminate me. If they terminate me, will they pay 3 months’ salary compensation to me or not? Will the contract I signed from May 01.05.2019 have any impact on this compensation? Please advise. Thanks a lot.

Q: Dear sir, I am working in a company as a mechanical engineer and the limited contract would be expired on Oct 17th, 2019. 4 days before its expiration, on Oct 13th, 2019, I received a notice from the employer that they are not interested to renew my contract, without stating a reason. What should I do?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, Good morning, I hope you are doing well! I came across legaladvice.com while browsing the internet. I have been working with my company for over 11 years, but my direct superior recently informed me that my contract will not be renewed for the 2023-2024 school year. I will only be serving the school until the end of the current school year, 2022-2023. Is this correct? My visa is set to expire in January 2024. Do I need to submit a resignation letter? What will happen to my gratuity? Will I be paid for the remaining months before the expiration of my visa? I would greatly appreciate it if you could provide clarification and assistance with my concerns.

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.

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).