Q: Ramadan Kareem! I am working in retail with an unlimited contract. Last March, my income has been reduced by 20% due to the company's internal restructuring. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic got even worse forcing me to be in furlough. They have reduced my income by 80% until 3 months. At the same time, the company had asked to donate some of the Annual Leave days to help the company during the crisis. Is this legal? The company is going to put me into redundancy soon and they have advised that it will be only for a month instead of the 3-month compensation. Kindly advise.

Q: My company has placed all of the employees on unpaid leave due to the COVID-19 situation. Can they legally do this without even paying our basic salary or expenses?

Q: I've been working in a company in JLT under a limited contract for a year and a half. Due to the current pandemic, I was asked to sign a letter stating that I am going on unpaid leave for 5 months which I did not sign. I did explain via emails that I can not accept to live without any income for 5 months. I said that I accept salary deductions. I did not hear from them except that they are waiting for my signature for unpaid leave. I will most probably have to leave Dubai because I can not afford anymore to live here. What are my rights in this case? Can I resign because I haven't received a salary last month? Am I entitled to any end of service benefits in this case? Am I obligated to pay any penalty because I am resigning under a limited contract? What can I do if I don't hear from them by the end of this month or if I don't receive anything at the end of the month? Thank you!

Q: My company gave me an early retirement with one month's notice on 5th May 2019 after 20 years. A settlement is not done. My visa has already expired on 16 of July 2019. Then, I filed a case in Sharjah court, and a judgment came in my favor on 30th October 2019. I am waiting for the money that the company has to pay. I am staying in company's accommodation. Now, the HR called me today asking me to leave the flat and pay (1000 Dhs./month, starting from June) to the accounting department. So legally, can I stay in the company's accommodation till I get the money? And as I said, my visa expired so can I stay legally in the UAE till getting my money from the company?

This article discusses the Ministerial Resolution No. (279) of 2020 Regarding Employment Stability in the Private Sector during the Period of Application of Precautionary Measures to Curb the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus Issued by the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization in Abu Dhabi on 26/3/2020.

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).