Q: I have been working with a private company for 2 years and 10 months on an unlimited contract. Three months ago my employer cut Dh 3000 from our salaries and later asked us to sign a letter saying that we accept a deduction until the company's financial condition improves. There has been no change in the contract though. My employer also increased our working hour by 30 minutes every day, for which we were sent an email. My questions are: 1. If I leave the company, can I claim the salary which has been deducted back? 2. Will my final dues be calculated based on the salary mentioned in my contract or the reduced salary? 3. Can I ask for overtime for the increased hours? It is mentioned in my contract that overtime will not be paid. ***

Q: Good morning sir, I had been working as a senior site engineer for a good contracting company in Dubai. Meanwhile, I was totally trapped by Al Faisaliyah contracting company, Dubai. The company gave me a better offer and position and told me to join fast. When I got an offer letter I resigned from the last employer and exit from the UAE for getting a visa from the new company. But the company sent me one visit visa and told me that when I arrive in the UAE they will immediately change it to the employment visa. When I joined here they told me they will change it as early as possible. Last two months I had to work believing their words. Now I came to know it was totally a trap and they have no labour quota because of 4-month pending salaries to staff. When I realized they are cheaters, I resigned and told them I cannot work illegally here. Also, they didn’t pay me the salary for two months. All the staff here are working with expired visa and same like me. Now I want my salary. Is there any legal way to move???

Q: Dear Sir, I want to ask a question. I am currently working in a small workshop that includes 10 workers. My employer made my salary in the labour contract AED 700 per month, but after one year I got a driving license and he increased my salary to AED 2000. Now I have no proof that he increased my salary, but I have salary card that mentions AED 2000. If I file a case in the labour court that he did not give me my salary for the last 4 months, then which salary does the court count, 700 or 2000?

Q: I am an employee in a company in Dubai since the last two years, with an unlimited contract and my total salary is AED 3000 (Joining date: 01/01/2016). In the first year, I was doing an operational activity in a logistics company like documentation of all import/ export Inquiries (Designation in visa: Client Service Clerk). In addition, I was helping the accountant as an assistant because the management decided that I shall help him in accounts. I am an employee with a postgraduate degree (M.Com Degree). On the 4th January 2017, our accountant (Designation: Accounts Manager) left the company due to personal reasons. His salary was while joining AED 5000, and when he left the company after two years and a half that time was AED 6200. The management asked me to take the position of an accountant and I accepted it. I was thinking that I will get AED 5000 salary of an accountant from the next month, but till this date, after 10 months, I am getting AED 3000. I asked several times to change my designation and upgrade my salary, but they are giving the same answer that the company is at a loss.

Q: Dear Sir/ Madam, In my offer letter, the designation is Accounts Manager; however, since I have not attested degree certificates the employer promised to give me Archive Clerk Visa. They took my thumb impression and signature on blank paper and later they issued me a Messenger Profession Visa. When I inquired about the same and refused to accept the Messenger Visa, they are blaming me that I agreed to this Messenger Visa and asked me to pay the visa costs and leave. I sent the resignation and agreed to pay the visa cost, but the visa cost is double what they have quoted. Note: the visa is not stamped on my passport. Will I get any ban from MOL, if the visa is cancelled? Kindly advise... Thanks in advance

Q: Hi My company didn't pay for the last 6 months (May 2018 to October 2018) including this month. The salary for the month of April 2018 was paid on July 24, 2018, and that's the last salary they paid. I am working as an Urban Planning Engineer in Abu Dhabi. Need your advice.

س: إذا امتنعت عن سداد الأجور خلال فترة الإغلاق التام للشركة بسبب كورونا، هل تلحقني مسؤولية؟

Q: Hi Sir/Madam I want to file a case against my company because I didn't get my salary since 5 months ago. What do you give me suggestions? I already went to the labour court but nobody helped because of my 3-year visa.

س: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته، عملت في مصنع لمدة شهرين وكلما طلبت راتبي يقولون لا توجد أموال. لا يوجد عقد عمل بيني وبينهم، ولكن معي إعارة من الشركة التي أتيت للعمل فيها. ماذا أفعل؟

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.

سوف نستهدف هنا الوصول إلى كيفية احتساب مكافأة نهاية الخدمة بما يتماشى مع ما نص عليه قانون العمل في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة وما دأب عليه القضاء فيها، إضافة إلى طرح تعاريف الألفاظ التي أوردها القانون، للوصول إلى نتيجتين: الأولى؛ ما هو الأساس الذي تحتسب عليه مكافأة نهاية الخدمة، والثانية؛ كيفية احتساب حدها الأقصى.

An interview-format article covering the topic of employment in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. In this article, Ludmila informs readers what they should do and where they should go if they have not been paid by their employer.

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.

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).