Q: Hello, I am originally from the UK and relocated to Dubai in 2004 when my company established a new office. I originally joined the same company in 2001, based in the London office. Since then, I have grown with the organization and am in a middle management role. Recently, the company announced they would downsize the Dubai office, and affected staff would be offered to relocate back to an office in their home country (India) or to the new office being established in Spain. I have been advised that my present role will be made redundant in Dubai but have been offered a new role in Spain. The new role is seen as a promotion but there are little to no benefits and it's a major drop in salary (basic salary would drop by 40%). There are no additional allowances. Currently, I receive basic salary + allowances. I have been in the UAE since 2004 and my options appear to be limited to accept redundancy or a new role with a significant drop in salary. Would this be considered constructive dismissal?

Q: Hi, I have been working in my company for about 14 years now. Due to the pandemic, I went home in March as a vacation, but never get any financial assistance from my company. Now my company is not even bothered to bring me back to work. Do I need to resign to find a new job and can I still claim my service fee/gratuity? We are a Free Zone company. Please give advice. Thank you!

Q: I am an English dance teacher working in Dubai, the UAE. My employer has reduced my pay due to COVID-19, but I haven’t signed anything for them to say that they can do so. They sent me a form two months after paying me a reduced wage to sign which was backdated and whilst I was not in the country. Can they legally underpay me without my consent?

This article discusses the Ministerial Resolution No. (279) of 2020 Regarding Employment Stability in the Private Sector during the Period of Application of Precautionary Measures to Curb the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus Issued by the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization in Abu Dhabi on 26/3/2020.

An interview-format article covering the topic of employment issues and laws during COVID-19 in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

As the world is currently experiencing a major lockdown and suspension of almost all commercial and civil operations, the question arises in the novelty of Coronavirus outbreak on how serious it is to be dealt with as a Force Majeure.

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.

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).