Is the employer bound to pay for an exit ticket of an employee?

Dear questioner,

Article 131 of the Employment Law, which states:

Upon expiry of the contract, the employer shall bear the cost of the employee's repatriation to his point of hire or to any other point that was mutually agreed upon. Where an employee joins another employer upon the expiry of his contract, the latter shall bear the cost of the employee's repatriation at the end of his service.

Without prejudice to the foregoing, if the employer fails to return the employee or to pay his repatriation expenses, the competent authorities shall do so at the employer's expense and may then recover any expenditure incurred in this connection by attachment.

Where the reason for the termination of the contract is attributable to the employee, his repatriation shall be at his own expense if he has the means to pay.

Please be noted that as per UAE employment law, the employer is not liable to provide annual tickets to the employees but they are liable to take care of the repatriation expenses.

Regards,

Rajasree Ravivarma