Q: Is it legal to hold the passport of the employee by a company? I didn't get my passport back after stamping visa, they gave me just a copy of passport with the visa page. My PRO told me that all passports should stay with the company and I can receive it back to travel only upon approval of the management. He explained that this is the company policy and common practice.

Q: I don't have my passport but labour relation office give me a paper to cancel my visa. My labour card and labour contract are already cancelled by the labour relation office. My passport is with the sponsor. So, please tell me what to do next. Should I just go to the immigration for cancellation or complain first to ask for my passport retention?

Q: My ex-employer filed a financial crime and we settled it before canceling the visa. 3 months after he canceled the visa, he filed the case.

Q: Sir, I have an absconding case. My employer got my passport and he does not want to give it to me. I do not want to leave the UAE. Please tell me what I can do!

س: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله، وقعت على عرض عمل مع شركة في دبي بتاريخ 07/2022. مر أكثر من 6 أشهر ولم يوفروا لي العمل. حاليًا لم يتبقى لدي مالاً لأصرف على نفسي. حالتي الصحية في تدهور. عندما طالبت بجواز السفر، الشركة قالت أنه يجب على الوسيط الموافقة أولاً وبعد ذلك نسلمك الجواز. الوسيط قال أنه يريد المقابل، مع العلم اني دفعت له 2500 درهم إماراتي مسبقًا. ذهبت إلى المحكمة للإبلاغ عن حجز الجواز. أصدرت المحكمة أمرًا بتسليم الجواز لصاحبه، لكن مركز الشرطة المعني بالأمر بدلاً من تنفيد أوامر المحكمة بكاملها اكتفوا فقط بالاتصال بالوسيط والأخير يقول أنه سيسلم الجواز لصاحبه، ولكن إلى الآن لم يفعل. وكإجراء بديل، حرروا لي بلاغ فقدان جواز السفر في مركز الشرطة لأجدده في السفارة. السؤال: هل يمكنني اتباع هذا الإجراء أم تترتب عواقب على هذا النوع من الإجراءات؟ وماذا أفعل لأحصل على الجواز بطريقة قانونية؟ شكرًا جزيلاً!

Q: Good day, I resigned from my current employer within the probation period as I got another offer. Now my current employer has held my salary for 45 days stating it is visa cost. Also, they are not releasing my passport. Kindly suggest what can I do.

س: السلام عليكم، لدي موظف مدير المكتب يستلم أموال نقدًا وشيكات إيجار عقارات وشيكات ضمان ولديه مبلغ مصروفات دائمًا. هل يجوز أن يسلم جواز سفره لحفظه لحين الإجازة السنوية لأن لديه أمانات وعهدة؟

Q: Good evening Sir, I resigned from my company and they cancelled my visa also. Still, they have not released my passport. I complained in MOHRE (80084) 10 days ago. Still, they did not take any action. Then I went to the police station and they told me I needed to go to Dubai court. There they told me I needed to go to Alaweer immigration. Now, what will I do? Please tell me. They did not give me the September month salary either. Now I am stuck.

An interview-format article covering the topic of an employer demanding to hold an employees passport. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of LAWGICAL with LYLAW.

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).