Q: Hi, I joined a company in Dubai free zone 3 months ago with unlimited contract and a probation period of 6 months. My current situation is that I am not comfortable with my current employer and want to come back to my home country. I have handled my resignation letter 10 days ago. My visa is still in the process of making and I have not got my passport back yet. The company does not want me to leave and now requires me to pay 30000 AED without giving any explanation. Could you please let me know if Free Zone Labor Law allows a company to charge employee resigning from work during probation period? What is the process of resignation from here? When should company return my passport? Regards, Karolis Griskevicius

Q: 1. Is it allowed to resign within two months while an employee is on 6 months probation period? 2. If an employee resigns, would he/she be responsible for all expenses related to visa and medical insurance?

Q: I joined a hospital as an office staff a month ago and have been working for one month. Now I am under a probation period which is for 6 months. I am on a husband's visa and did not take any facilities such as medical insurance, accommodation, or visa. I am not comfortable with the work atmosphere and would like to resign from there. What will be the financial and legal consequences? I heard they normally charge 45 days salary and a ban is imposed even under probation period. What should I do to terminate the contract?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have been working with an LLC in Ajman for 5 months now, and I want to resign and return. Can I do so, and can the company ask for any charges?

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).