Questions & Answers
Reducing an employee's salary without his consent during COVID-19 pandemic
I am an English dance teacher working in Dubai, the UAE. My employer has reduced my pay due to COVID-19, but I haven’t signed anything for them to say that they can do so.
They sent me a form two months after paying me a reduced wage to sign which was backdated and whilst I was not in the country.
Can they legally underpay me without my consent?
According to the supplement attached to the recent work contract regarding the possibility of reducing the worker's salary without his consent or giving him leave with or without salary, it is legal.
Please note that if the employee informs the employer that he or she does not agree on this procedure, his or her contract may be terminated according to the legal procedures.
For this reason, in most cases, the worker will agree to this reduction which was issued according to the exceptional circumstances during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Nevertheless, the employer cannot make any deductions on the salary unless it is with the
consent of the worker.
Ali Khalaf Alhosani advocates
