Q: Hi Hari, I am currently working in Abu Dhabi. I had an employment contract with a Dubai company and It has been more than 8 months so far since I resigned. I signed the settlement paper even though my settlement was not made. But I have a mail stating that I am signing this paper for cancellation and still yet to receive my dues. I registered a complaint against my old employer and they are telling me that they will file a criminal case stating that I stole materials, I got a commission from suppliers and subcontractors, which is not true. Please advise.

Q: I am the only employee in the company and my job included sales, marketing, accounting, administration and delivery. I worked using my own personal desktop, phone, internet connection and car since the company has not provided any. I started work in this Free Zone company on Dec 1, 2014, under unlimited contract and on my husband's visa. I have resigned last Dec 11, 2017, and served my 30 days’ notice period last Jan 11, 2018. My employer was supposed to pay the final settlement on my last day but then she re-scheduled to meet on Jan 14, then on January 16 and lastly on Jan 18. Just before the day of agreed final settlement, she accused me that all my previous work emails have been allegedly deleted. She filed a complaint of Breach of Contract on Jan 18 and I also filed a complaint about her delay in paying my end of service benefits. She has continuously intimidated me with her plans to file it in court. These false allegations have caused me and my family emotional distress. Please advise.

Q: I was working in a company for around 3.5 years in Dubai in the position of Estimation Engineer. On 22-01-2019, I submitted my resignation to the company with one month period till 21-02-2019. On 12-02-2019, the company didn't allow me to enter the office to work and they told me the company will cancel my visa and settle my outstanding within 2 days. However, in between, I have sent an email to the company twice and called the HR but they didn't respond and they are not giving me my passport. I have filed a labour case against the company due to not cancelling my visa and I have got the date of 7th April 19 for the labour court case. Subsequently, the company has filed a criminal case against me for copying data from the company system. I visited the police station last week and they recorded my statement. I want to know, can I get my visa cancellation from the labour court in the presence of the criminal case so that I can cover my ongoing loan in the UAE and family liability?

Q: Good day. I just want some help and advice regarding my case. Last July, my employer sent me to jail. After holding me for a week, the court found me innocent and sent me out of jail. After I cleared my case at the court and took my passport, the CID called my employer to cancel my visa, they said that they will cancel it and also bring our things to the embassy, as well as our pending salary. But until now they didn't do it. I went to immigration to check my status but they told me my employer filed me absconding after I cleared my case. I filed a complaint to the labor as well and they proceeded to the court, but I didn't get any response yet. What should I do to proceed with my complaint? And is there any possibility to clear my absconding because I have court documents when they sent me to jail before? Best regards, R.

Q: My husband was working in a private retail company before. While he was working with them, he helped a friend sell his friend's own designs of t-shirts through Facebook. His previous employer saw that and terminated him and they are accusing him that he is copying their designs and stealing customers by selling his friend's items while working which is not true. He threatened my husband that they will sue him and to avoid that, they're gonna remove him from work and will pay him only the days of his work (15 days) which my husband agreed because he doesn't want any trouble. That's what they did. They didn't pay him his gratuity for staying almost 3 yrs with them as well as airline ticket, vacation leave and public holidays. Now it's been a year since it happened and my husband is already working with another company and suddenly his previous employer saw him in a restaurant and asked him why he is there and threatened him that they are gonna sue him still. What do we need to do? Thank you.

س: السلام عليكم، هل يحق لصاحب العمل رفع شكوى على العامل بعد مرور أكثر من سنة ونصف من تركه العمل وانتقاله إلى صاحب عمل آخر؟ يطالب صاحب العمل برد مبالغ حصل عليها العامل من الشركة التي يعمل بها على أنها رواتب قديمة ومستقطعات وبدلات وذلك بعد أن رفع العامل قضية عمالية لمستحقاته التي لم يمر عليها أكثر من عام وحكمت المحكمة لصالحه.

Q: Hi Madam, One of my colleagues is working in Dubai. He has planned to visit his home country with his old visa canceled. He has a new employer's visa. While he was trying to book a ticket, his previous employer threatened him not to leave and said that they would file a case against him. Is this possible? Can you please guide us?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, A previous employer has pressed criminal charges against an individual and taken statements from staff members as evidence to submit to the public prosecutor. If the employer has added additional information to the witnesses' statements to solidify his case, is that considered falsifying evidence?

Issue: An employee resigned from the job after working for 5 years, and signs a letter addressed to the employer that he wants his gratuity to be paid only after his customer pays the employer. Therefore, has the employer defaulted for End of Service (EOS) payment under the UAE Labour Law?

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).