Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
9 available 9 • View allRedundancy and constructive dismissal
3
Q: Hello there,
I have been informed by my employer for 34 months, that my position is no longer required in our Dubai free zone office.
I was employed in 2014 to take up a Dubai-based position and I was informed that I would be taking over a Middle East Director in two years.
They have asked that I relocate to the UK in 3 months to take up the same position, they have given me 1 week to accept this offer.
Given that there is no mobility clause in my employment contract and offer letter, would I be within my right to refuse this offer on the grounds that it is unreasonable as we now know that it would take us (a family of 4 with 2 children) longer than 3 months to plan and move the family back to the UK?
What rights do I have if my employer were to make my position redundant, would I have grounds to sue for constructive dismissal as my performance has never been in question?

Jul 3, 2017
2393
Arbitrary termination of a limited contract and rights of the employee
5
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.

Jun 18, 2018
2158
Can the employer terminate an employee without a valid reason?
5
Q: Hi,
I worked with a company for 2 years and 8 months under an unlimited contract. I was dismissed with a 1-month notice, however, there were no warning letters.
I assume I am being laid off because of the current market condition. I would like to confirm if I am entitled to my gratuity as well as 3 months salary.
I have a loan and this would be helpful in closing out the loan and relocating back to my home country.
Appreciate your advice.

Mar 4, 2021
1450
Would a promotion offered with less salary be considered constructive dismissal?


1
Q: Hello,
I am originally from the UK and relocated to Dubai in 2004 when my company established a new office.
I originally joined the same company in 2001, based in the London office. Since then, I have grown with the organization and am in a middle management role.
Recently, the company announced they would downsize the Dubai office, and affected staff would be offered to relocate back to an office in their home country (India) or to the new office being established in Spain.
I have been advised that my present role will be made redundant in Dubai but have been offered a new role in Spain. The new role is seen as a promotion but there are little to no benefits and it's a major drop in salary (basic salary would drop by 40%).
There are no additional allowances. Currently, I receive basic salary + allowances.
I have been in the UAE since 2004 and my options appear to be limited to accept redundancy or a new role with a significant drop in salary. Would this be considered constructive dismissal?



Apr 5, 2021
590
Unfair dismissal by my employer due to filing a complaint
4
Q: I work for my employer starting from 09/02/2021 till 08/02/2023. Earlier, I was receiving AED 2000 total salary. Basic Salary: 1500, Accommodation and Transportation: 500.
Even though my contract states: Basic Salary: 1500, Accommodation Allowance: First Party, Transportation Allowance: First Party and no amount was stated for such allowances.
My employer suddenly reduced my total salary to 1500 since April 2021 and refused to provide me a decent accommodation.
Upon filing a complaint, my employer arbitrarily dismissed me from work on the 28th of December 2021 without salary from December till now.
He ordered his PRO to throw my laptop bag and belongings outside the shop, locked me outside and stopped me from working till today.
This is my case. Please, what do you suggest I claim now? Because even though my employer terminated me, he never put it in writing but was practically done.

Feb 22, 2022
260
Unexpected termination before contract completion: What is the next move?

2
Q: Dear sir/madam,
I have been working at a company. It is 8 months to complete my 2 years contract. Today, I was given a termination letter of my employment without any complaint, 1st warning, or 2nd warning.
I refused to sign it because I need clarification.
Can you please advise me on what to do next?


Feb 7, 2023
202
Terminated from free zone company without notice. What are your rights?


1
Q: Hello Sir/Madam,
I was terminated from a free zone company before my contract ended without any legitimate reason.
What can I do?



Nov 3, 2023
126
I've been given a termination letter. What will happen until the date written in that letter comes?

0
Q: I've been given a termination letter but I'm not signing it.
What will happen until the date written in that letter comes?


Nov 3, 2023
230
Termination before the end of a labor contract. Am I entitled to compensation?




2
Q: Dear Sir/Madam,
I was terminated and provided with a three-month notice period in accordance with my employment contract.
However, the contract is fixed-term (following a switch from an unlimited-term contract) and the termination occurs before the end of this contract's two-year term.
I would like to inquire whether I am entitled to compensation equivalent to three months' salary, as I have read in the federal labor law.
Additionally, the termination letter did not specify the reason for my termination.
Thanks a lot!





Nov 24, 2023
161
Legal blog
5 available 5 • View allProvisions of Limited and Unlimited Labour Contracts in the UAE Labour Law 147
When an employee or employer mentions legal issues related to their labour relationship, the first question to be raised is: do you have a limited or unlimited labour contract? We try here to shed light on the relevant provisions of the limited and unlimited contracts in the UAE labour law pertaining to resignation, termination of employment, notice period and calculation of the end of service benefits.
Jan 5, 2019
83033
Termination Without a Valid Reason - What Can You Do? 12
An interview-format article covering the topic of employment termination without a valid reason in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. Ludmila discusses the aspects of termination, like notice periods, end of service benefits, arbitrary dismissal, unpaid salaries etc.
Jan 15, 2020
5481
Differences Between Limited & Unlimited Contracts 5
An interview-format article covering the topic of employment contracts in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. Ludmila discusses the aspects of limited and unlimited contracts, like the end of service, notice, arbitrary dismissal...etc.
Mar 17, 2020
4615
How 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
11262
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
90629
Laws & Regulations
3 available 3 • 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
103627
Ministerial Decree No. (765) of 2015 On Rules and Conditions for the Termination of Employment Relations 8
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.
Sep 27, 2015
12407
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
26468

Other answers by
453 453 answers •
View allTerminating an employee after sick leave and claiming compensation 0
Hello,
My employer fired me under Article 44 for not showing up for work for 7 days in a row. But that’s not the case at all. I was sick and the management was aware and they let me go.
I went to another country to get treatment because it’s expensive in Dubai. My employer did not pay me my salary for the month I worked and fired me.
I have official sick leave from another country and there is correspondence where my employer sent me to another country for treatment.
The problem is that the employer says that he will take compensation for the training that was specified in the contract, but I did not undergo training at all; I immediately started work from the first day of work and there was no training.
Does my employer have the right to charge me such a fee and not pay my salary?
Feb 29, 2024
460
How to make the seller hand over the tenant's security deposit to the buyer upon completing a sale? 0
Should the seller in Dubai hand over their tenant's security deposit to the buyer upon completing a sale?
Who is responsible for managing this process?
At the time of the exchange, the broker said he would follow up with the seller and collect the deposit.
He hasn’t, and the seller has not handed over the deposit.
Feb 8, 2024
424
How to deal with in-laws provoking and recording reactions? 0
Dear Sir/Madam,
My husband's family constantly provokes me and then records my every exaggerated reaction.
Now I'm worried that they might use those things against me.
Feb 8, 2024
245
How to cancel the MoU to buy an apartment with the broker if the bank did not approve the loan? 0
Hi,
I have a situation where I signed an MoU and gave my security deposit to the seller's agent. However later, the bank valuation of the property is lower than the selling price.
On my MoU, it has a clause that “the buyer has a right to cancel/negotiate if the bank valuation is not the same as MoU.” I tried to negotiate, however, we didn't agree on the price so I asked to cancel.
Now the agent is threatening me that they will not cancel the MoU and that will deposit my cheque. Later I also came to know that the person I am dealing with is not the same person whose name is mentioned as a broker in the MoU.
The agent I am dealing with is constantly messaging me with threats. I decided not to speak to him and instead, I wrote an email to the broker whose name is mentioned on the MoU but received no response.
I am on a very tight timeline as I need to vacate my apartment in 3 weeks, I found another unit but I don't know if I can pursue this while the initial MoU still not canceled.
Please, I need advice.
Feb 8, 2024
625
Employer asking for visa reimbursement after resignation: do I need to pay? 0
Hello Sir/Madam,
I have already finished my first year with my company and resigned.
My employer is asking me to reimburse the cost of my visa because I did not finish my two-year contract.
Do I need to pay? The cost is 7,000 AED.
Oct 20, 2023
811
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