Q: Good evening, My employer sent me a 'stop working' letter on 23.10.2019 awaiting investigation on wrongdoings in the company. My visa expired on 13.11.2019 and they haven't decided either to renew or cancel my visa. Please note that no one has interviewed me, investigated with me nor interrogated me about anything. The salary of November 2019 should have been paid as per Tawafuq legal department. They also advised me that the stop working letter is only valid for 10 days. Would appreciate your feedback Regards, NIK

Q: Dear Sir, Greetings! I am working in a construction company as a Secretary/ Front Desk Receptionist. My visa expired on the third of May 2017, and till this date, my employer has not renewed my visa. My Emirates ID is already expired also, and my employer keeps on telling me they don't have the money now to renew my visa, but they will renew it. As you can see, a lot of fines has been accumulated to date and its 6 months now. Therefore, in view of above, what action should I take in order to ensure that my visa will be renewed by my employers?

Q: Hi. I know someone who is facing a problem with his visa and the company. Is it possible to file a complaint against a company that promised a hired employee that they will process his visa and they will take care of everything before the expiry of his visit visa? Unfortunately, they did do what they have promised and refused to pay the fines and penalties. Also delays everything. The hired employee decided not to continue with the company, borrowed money from friends, and paid the penalties. He also asked an agency to process a new visit visa. However, it won't proceed because of a previous application filed by the company. The hired employee then asked the company to cancel the application so the agency can process the new visit visa. But until now, they did not cancel, meaning today and tomorrow will be another penalty to pay. Another burden for the person. Is it possible to file a complaint against the company? And can he ask for payment for the 2 weeks he worked with them?

Q: Hi, How can you find out if there is a travel ban? My partner has paid off 10% of the fine in Dubai and has been allowed into the country and has residency. But his employer has not paid him for the past few months and my partner is unable to pay the fines and is unable to leave the country. Surely, if he is not being paid and not finding work, he can leave the country and find work elsewhere to pay off his fines. Is there any way to find out whether the travel ban can be lifted?

Q: I completed 2 years of my contract and my visa expired. I gave the company a cancellation request but the company didn't give a cancellation. I gave the request for labor card cancellation The court canceled my labor card now I need the visa to be canceled but my visa status is violated and has a fine. I have no money and I need to cancel my residency visa to leave the country.

Q: Good afternoon I’ve been trying to make a visa for my maid for several months as I have fallen victim to fraud on an online website claiming to be Amer. It’s been several months and I’m trying to remove absconding now as she has overstayed. The company that has put absconding on her visa is located in Abu Dhabi. They no longer exist and they shut down 2 weeks after her entrance. I’ve gone to Immigration several times and they don’t seem to help. Is there something I can do? Can I be guided on what I can do about the matter to lift the absconding? Please help

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have worked in the UAE for 2 years and completed my contract. I notified the company a month before my contract expired, expressing my decision not to renew. When the contract ended, I refused to sign the cancellation paper because the company declined to pay the gratuity and other pending salary. I filed a complaint with the labor authorities. With 7 days left for my visa to expire, I am unsure if I will be charged for overstay or if it is the responsibility of the company. Kindly advise!

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.

An interview-format article covering the topic of overstaying your tourist or resident visa in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. Ludmila discusses the aspects of overstaying, like fines, grace periods, exemptions...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 UAE attracts a large population of expatriates from around the world for business or leisure. It occurs sometimes that those expatriates violate the rules of their visas and incur overstay fines which accumulate the longer they stay beyond their visa's expiry date. This may result in travel restrictions, banning violators from entering the UAE for a certain period or lifetime. The UAE authorities have now announced a two-month scheme for violators to rectify their situations.

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.

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.

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).