Q: Hello, I am from Bosnia and I currently work in Dubai. I came here on the 13th of November this year. Currently, I have only an entry visa and I'm waiting for the medical exam to get visa stamped in my passport. My employer didn't give me any contract to sign. He provided me with a visa, accommodation, transport and food. Now, I have an emergency situation back in Bosnia and I have to go back. The employer told me that I have to pay for all the expenses to him if I want to go. Do I have to pay it due to not having and signing any contract? And when I have my passport back, will I be able to go home without paying expenses to him? I asked him for the contract, he said that I don't have to sign anything.

Q: Hi Mr Hari, Hope you're doing well. I would like to ask if I'm obliged to pay my employer before I can leave the company. I'm currently employed in a free zone company in Al Qouz for 3 months, and I'm still in the probationary period. I would like to resign because I got another job and also I'm not comfortable with the environment; that's why I look for another opportunity. Now, my employer would like me to pay a sum of AED 5250. This fine, is it for the visa and Emirates ID? And do I really need to pay them that amount? Thank you and looking forward to hearing from you soon. Best regards,

Q: If the employer terminated employment during the probation period, should I pay all expenses? And is it possible to get a ban from the UAE?

Q: I received a termination letter last week, 20th January. I was asked to visit the office. Now, my employer is asking me to pay him visa expenses and insurance expenses (total of 6500AED) since my Emirati ID was issued at the beginning of this month. I started working for the company restaurant (owned by Emirati) in October. When I visited the HR, she asked me how much I will be able to raise regarding the medical and visa expenses! My response was I can't. I am not able to get the money since I don’t have any source of income. The HR told me that the owners need their money for the expenses and they will do anything to make sure that they make hard times for me if I don’t pay them, claiming that the owner knows people in the immigration and will report me absconding. So, because they are holding my passport, I am afraid to go to the police or the labor department because I am just an ex-pat and they are Emiratis and I can not afford to proceed with any legal action against them.

Q: Hello Sir. I wanna ask if I have the right to get help from MOHRE. My Iraqi employer filed an absconding case and wants me to pay AED 6,168 for visa cost and AED 8,000 for the commission they gave to the agency. I think it's unreasonable.

Q: Dear sir/madam, I resigned from my company last June 20 and served my notice period until July 29. My employer has asked me to pay for the visa expenses but I have refused to do so as the MOL told me I’m not obliged to do so. The company then filed a case against me claiming a large amount. I will need a defense memo to answer their claim as the amount is unjustified.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have a limited-term contract. I completed 15 months and worked my notice period. My company is asking me to pay half of my visa expenses, which they say is mentioned in my offer letter. What should I do?

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).