Q: I got an employment offer from one of the construction companies from Dubai after the personal interview. I signed the employment offer which I received through email and sent back. Now, after 20 days, they withdrew this offer as per their management decision. I am working in Qatar and I already resigned from my job, and next week I have to leave Qatar. I don't know what to do. Is there any chance to claim it legally?

Q: I live in the UK and have AED 60,000 of debt in the UAE from when I lived there 2 years ago. I receive letters all the time from a debt collection agency in the UK and today I received an email from the bank entitled 'Amnesty Offer' (although I'm not sure what that means) I have no assets and no regular income, therefore, they can't get anything out of me at the moment. However, I would very much like to get this sorted, perhaps by paying off a fraction of the outstanding amount as a lump sum to settle the debt. I would like to know if I can sue my previous employer as they are the reason I had to leave Dubai, and the reason I ended up jobless. They headhunted me, offered me a job in their company but then refused to issue me with a visa. They also gave me a fake employment contract. I planned to stay in Dubai my whole life, but their actions meant I had to return home, with no job and no money. It is grossly unfair and I would like compensation.

Q: I'm a German national who got an offer for a job in JAFZ, which I subsequently accepted by signing an "Employment LOI" starting 09.04.17. On 10.05.17 the LOI was revoked because my work permit got rejected by the DNRD. The reason for rejection was not given and I was told by company's PRO that I'm not allowed in Dubai. I have never been in Dubai before the rejection. I contacted JAFZA and found out that the PRO made mistakes in submitting the application. A company letter was requested and was never provided. The PRO convinced the company that my father's religion "Shiite" and my birthplace "Lebanon" is the problem. I was then told by the PRO that I'm not allowed to enter Dubai. I was able to enter on 15.05.17 without any problems. 1. Is the LOI legally binding? It does not state any conditions concerning the visa. 2. Can I sue the company under the anti-discrimination law and demand compensation? 3. Can I find out why DNRD rejected the application as the company is refusing to ask for clarification?

س: السلام عليكم، هل يعتبر عرض العمل عقد أستطيع به تقديم شكوى ضد صاحب العمل مطالبًا بحقوقي؟ علمًا بأن الطرفين وقَّعا على العقد؟

Three new ministerial decrees containing a new set of rules for the labour market were issued by the UAE Ministry of Labour last year and came into force on the 1st of January this year. The decrees are expected to alter the contractual relationship between employers and workers in the UAE.

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.

By this Decree Ministry of Labour of the UAE has removed the six-month labour ban for those who changed the job before completing two years of service. Labour ban will be still applicable for workers that qualify for skill level 4 and 5 under various circumstances.

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).