Q: I came to the UAE with my own efforts. But on my arrival, the agent has given me to a labour recruitment company at Ajman. The employer held my passport and now am being maltreated. I want to quit this job because l haven't signed any contract with them. How do l go by resignation and release my passport?

Q: I recently got a job offer through email from a semi-governmental company in Dubai which was labelled as indicative job offer as the subject. I accepted the job offer through email providing all my educational documents and passport. This indicative offer through email is subject to approval by the government. Attached documents included personal detail form, Non-declaration form and visa form. Nothing like a proper job offer letter or any document from MOL. Is it binding for me or I can still reject? Will I be subjected to any employment ban if I reject now? Which document or stage will make me legally bound?

Q: Hi, I joined one company and I signed their company offer letter. I worked for a couple of days and found out that there are unlikely things happening. Now that they gave me the offer letter from the Ministry of Labor, I don't wish to sign it as I don't want to continue with the company anymore. Can I just leave the company or is there any procedure to be done? Thanks.

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.

According to this Decree, tentative approval to admit a foreign worker for the purpose of employment in the UAE cannot be granted until an Employment Offer that conforms with the Standard Employment Contract is duly signed by the employee and presented to the Ministry of Labour.

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).