Q: Hello, I am from Bosnia and I currently work in Dubai. I came here on the 13th of November this year. Currently, I have only an entry visa and I'm waiting for the medical exam to get visa stamped in my passport. My employer didn't give me any contract to sign. He provided me with a visa, accommodation, transport and food. Now, I have an emergency situation back in Bosnia and I have to go back. The employer told me that I have to pay for all the expenses to him if I want to go. Do I have to pay it due to not having and signing any contract? And when I have my passport back, will I be able to go home without paying expenses to him? I asked him for the contract, he said that I don't have to sign anything.

Q: Good Day I received a termination last week. Now my employer is asking me to pay him visa expenses and insurance expenses since my Emirates ID came out after begging only this month. I started working for the company in October. Since they are the ones who terminated me due to performance, should I pay for the visa?

Q: I received a termination letter last week, 20th January. I was asked to visit the office. Now, my employer is asking me to pay him visa expenses and insurance expenses (total of 6500AED) since my Emirati ID was issued at the beginning of this month. I started working for the company restaurant (owned by Emirati) in October. When I visited the HR, she asked me how much I will be able to raise regarding the medical and visa expenses! My response was I can't. I am not able to get the money since I don’t have any source of income. The HR told me that the owners need their money for the expenses and they will do anything to make sure that they make hard times for me if I don’t pay them, claiming that the owner knows people in the immigration and will report me absconding. So, because they are holding my passport, I am afraid to go to the police or the labor department because I am just an ex-pat and they are Emiratis and I can not afford to proceed with any legal action against them.

Q: I am working as an agent with a real estate agency. I am new to this industry, just got my visa processed which is why I am still looking forward to applying for RERA. I sold an apartment in an off-plan project which is exclusive with the broker I am working for. The client has paid 20 percent on which the commission should be released, but it has been 2 months I am begging for my own money. Due to all this unprofessional behavior, I resigned and still looking for some help to put pressure on them. I have my name on the SPA and the buyer is also with me. I want them to pay 2 percent which was agreed verbally, without deducting the visa cost which is mentioned on the contract. Please advise.

Q: Dear sir/madam, Is it possible to block an immigration file during the execution of a labor case? I have exhausted all avenues of blocking licenses, business accounts, personal accounts, etc.

An interview-format article covering the topic of filing an employment court case in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

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).