Q: Hello I got a new job offer. Can I get a new employment visa while facing bounced cheque in Dubai? Regards, P.

Q: I have a bounced cheque police case (AED 203,000) on my name. I want to apply for an employment visa but I don't know if this will be approved. I have spoken to my bank and they told me they are considering dropping the case if I pay a downpayment of AED 16-20k. I cannot pay this amount now. I can pay after the employment visa is stamped. I don't know if there is a travel ban on my name. Which one restricts me from applying for the visa; the travel ban or the police case? Also, am I allowed to work without a visa to come up with the amount to clear the dues? I don't have anyone to borrow from. I don't want to leave the country. I want to settle my dues and legalize my status. There are war and political instability in my country and I have been here since 1992 with no legal issues. With the police case, is someone going to come to arrest me?

Q: There was a case filed against me in Muraqabat Police Station for bouncing cheque. I was not able to pay my loan for more than 4 months as I lost my job and unable to pay. I informed the bank and negotiated with them, but they want me to pay at least half of the loan amount. My problem now is that I got a job offer but my new employer cannot issue an employment visa for me as I am in the blacklist status. My previous employer also cannot cancel my visa, they were able to cancel my labour card and already beyond the grace period of 30 days. My previous employer told me that they will present my passport to the visa section and file an absconding case against me. Please advise if they can really push filing an absconding case against me? What shall I do regarding the bounced cheque so that my new employer can process an employment visa for me?

Q: I lost my job a year and a half ago and now I got a job but I am not able to pay my credit card dues for the last 3 months. Does this affect changing my visa or not? Recently, they sent me a legal notice from a lawyer's office. I have 4 cards of 20k, 16k, 11k, and 39k from three different banks.

Q: In my misdemeanor case of 150,000, the case is in the upper court and is with the Ruler's Court expert. The case went to the Ruler's Court expert in October 2023, and the expert picked the case in Jan 2024. He said that the report will be ready in Apr 2024. Now there is a 2-month extension. Is there any timeline as to how much time the expert can take? Also, is there a maximum time as to how much time the case can stay in the upper court?

The management of individual financial affairs is crucial and all the actions must be weighed down while committing to any financial liability. Whether it's job loss that may have lead to financial failure or the opposite, one must be aware of the personal liability which will not diminish by paying fines for cheque bounce cases. There are two major types of liabilities, criminal liability and civil liability. Each has its own significance, hence, must be dealt with accordingly.

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.

This Law promulgates the Federal Penal Code (Criminal Law) of the United Arab Emirates. Crimes and chastisement punishments shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other penal codes.

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 by Law amend the Federal Law No. (18) of 1993 by replacing Clause (4) of Article (379) as well as Articles (600), (617), (641), (642), (643), (644), and adding new articles numbered (635) Bis, (641) Bis (1), (641) Bis (2), (641) Bis (3), (641) Bis (4), (643) Bis (1), (643) Bis (2), (644) Bis (1) and (644) Bis (2). The Decree-Law also repeals Articles (401), (402) and (403) of the Federal Law No. (3) of 1987.