Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
7 available 7 • View allDeduction of paid housing allowance from salaries after termination
Q: I was employed in January with a 6-month probation period. My employer terminated the contract, with the notice period set to expire on 22 April.
They are withholding my March and April salaries as they have advanced an accommodation allowance for 6 month's rent. They want me to return the balance of the rent that they have paid from the end of my notice period.
They have now proposed to deduct the rent balance from March and April salaries which would leave me with a salary of AED 1,500 for the two months.
Can they do this?
Apr 19, 2018
2424
Employee's rights when forced to be downgraded
Q: Sir, I am employed in this company since April 13, 2011.
I was recently informed that my company is cutting back on expenses, and I am no longer needed in my position. They offered to continue hiring me as Documents Controller for a lower unspecified salary.
The reason is that they are abolishing my department for which I am the Manager receiving AED 21500 and AED 4500 housing allowance.
Ultimately, I refused. So they decided to terminate me asap, and the termination letter will be given to me in a few days.
Through your kind assistance, I wish to know what compensation is due to me for being terminated.
By the way, just in case this info if significant in my case, I suffered a heart attack last September 7, 2017. I was welcomed back to work December 15, 2017, with a total leave of 96 days.
I do not wish to continue because their treatment for me since reporting back is not the same, the new general manager is aloof and disrespectful towards me.
Thank you in advance.
Regards,
MELVIN ESTEPA
Feb 18, 2018
537
Is the undocumented salary increment a part of the basic salary or allowances?
Q: I am currently employed by an engineering company since the beginning of 2014, and I have received termination notice in mid-2017 (+3 years service).
The initial full salary with the housing and transportation allowances was AED 20,000.00 and I have the breakdown of the allowances (basic salary, housing and transportation).
It was then raised to AED 30,000.00 in 2015 and the employer simply started to transfer the amount of AED 30,000.00 to my bank account without giving me any revised contract with the new payroll breakdown of the allowances.
Also, the employer never updated the Labor contract with the revised salary of 30,000.00 AED leaving the gratuity computation now open to many ambiguities. I have filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour to seek advice on my rights.
What would be the best approach to determine the basic salary, housing and transportation from the AED 30,000.00 salary, as this information is now omissive?
Sep 16, 2017
5536
Is it legal for parents to benefit twice from school allowance?
Q: My spouse and I work in different organizations. We both are on independent company visa.
As per the term of employment of each of us, we are allowed to claim school fee paid for our child.
Please confirm, can both of us claim the fee reimbursement in our individual company?
May 2, 2018
2302
Payment of allowances mentioned in the offer letter if provided 
Q: In my offer letter, they mentioned a basic salary of AED 1200, accommodation AED 800 and transportation AED 200, with a total of AED 2200.
But they did not mention free accommodation and transportation. They've told me they will provide free transportation and accommodation.
What does it mean? Will they give me total 2200 or cut the amount of AED 1000?
Aug 12, 2018
2237
Unlawful deductions from the salary upon resignation
Q: I submitted my resignation on 10 March. The problem is that they want to deduct food and accommodation allowances because I don't want to continue.
They told me this money was transferred by mistake. Now they prepared a settlement with the deducted money (700 x 14 months).
Tell me what to do.
Apr 14, 2019
1048
How to sue the employer for reducing salary without a valid reason
Q: Good morning,
I am planning to file a complaint against my employer who has not paid me a housing allowance similar to my male colleagues at equivalent positions on account that I am a woman living with her husband.
I have 3 questions:
- What is the impact of filing a complaint with MOHRE on my employment visa?
- Am I compelled to stay in the country until the matter is solved?
- And can I claim retroactive payment for all the unpaid housing allowance amounts?
Thank you for your advice.
Mar 8, 2021
187
Legal blog
1 available 1 • View allAn Overview of the New UAE Labor Law and Recent Amendments of 2024
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.
Sep 10, 2024
90229
Laws & Regulations
3 available 3 • View allFederal Law No. (8) of 1980 Concerning the Regulation of Labor Relations
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.
Apr 20, 1980
103589
Ministerial Decree No. (764) of 2015 On Ministry of Labour Approved Standard Employment Contracts
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.
Sep 27, 2015
5055
Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2021 On the Regulation of Labor Relations
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).
Sep 20, 2021
26352
Premium
Other answers by
342 342 answers •
View allHow can I vacate my tenant if the rental agreement ends before the eviction notice deadline?
My Dubai tenant's rental agreement is ending by the end of September 2024 and the completion of 12 months of legally served Eviction Notice is the end of December 2024.
I have two questions:
(a) Can I send a rent increase notice 3 months before as the rent has increased as per the RERA rent calculator?
(b) The second question is, do I have to renew the rental agreement for 3 months (until December 2024) or not?
Thank you.
May 1, 2024
268
How can I reach a settlement with the bank for a mortgage of a jointly owned property?
I have a jointly owned property in Abu Dhabi. The mortgage was defaulted on as I had to leave the property with my children following an assault by my ex-husband. He left the country in 2018 and never paid the mortgage.
As I was in the country, the bank filed a criminal case against me, and I was sentenced to 3 years. I won the appeal against the bank and then filed another criminal case a few months later in Dubai. Again, I won and paid a fine.
In 2019, the bank started a civil case against me and my ex-husband to have the property repossessed. However, at the time of the purchase of the property, there were no Title Deeds, the bank requires this.
I cannot give them the Title Deeds to sell the property and pay back the amount owed to them as my ex-husband refuses to provide a POA. The bank has filed another criminal case against me only for our jointly owned property.
I wish to resolve this and pay off the bank and receive any money left from the sale. How can I resolve this issue of the Title Deeds?
Oct 4, 2022
282
The procedures for filing for divorce on mutual consent
Dear sir/madam,
I am separated from my wife due to compatibility reasons. We got married in the Indian consulate in Dubai on December, 23rd.
We would like to file a divorce on mutual consent as soon as possible. May I get some advice here on the procedures?
Sep 13, 2022
672
My previous employer failed to pay my gratuity. Can I file a case 6 months after resignation?
My previous employer failed to pay my gratuity six months past now since I resigned, Is it possible to file a case against him after a 6 months period?
May 31, 2022
1270
Can a real estate agency hold a percentage of a property sale until transfer is done?
A real estate agency has signed an MOU stating that a 10% security deposit from the buyer and the seller will be kept in the real estate agency and will be released upon transferring the property.
The transfer of the property was blocked due to the court order.
According to my colleagues, the real estate agency is not a trustee and they are not allowed to have taken my security check in the first place, is this correct?
Jun 28, 2021
1263
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