Q: My employment contract has been terminated and I have served my 2 months' notice, but my employer will not cancel my visa. Is this illegal? If I leave the country, can my employer file a case against me for absconding?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have been working as a Civil Engineer in a Dubai-based construction company since 2003 with an unlimited contract. Due to financial issues, the company has decided not to renew its license and is closing down, but they have the dues that have to be paid to the local sponsor and he is not signing the cancellation papers. Please advise how I can get my visa canceled.

Q: I resigned from my company because I had a better job offer. The previous company did not pay me all the salaries and end-of-service benefits with excuses that they are not doing very well but that in the next few months they will deposit money on my account. I signed the visa cancelation paper not knowing that it is stated that I received all the dues that the company owes me. Since my resignation, it has passed a couple of months and I still haven't received anything. The last time when I asked, the company representatives told me that they will not pay me and I can go to court. Do I actually have a legal ground for a complaint regarding the statement on my visa cancelation paper?

Q: Dear sir/madam, I am working as a sales staff for footwear leather products in Dubai for more than 3 years. I submitted my resignation letter last July 31, 2022, and my last day will be on August 31, 2022. I did not put my reason in my resignation letter but when asked, I said that it is personal and I need to go to my home country, however, our HR/accountant wants to extend it until September 20, 2022. His reasons were there will be no staff because some staff will be on vacation. I need to arrange my final settlement. He also said that I’m selfish because I don’t want to support the company. Kindly please help me. Thank you!

Q: Submitted a resignation letter to my employer, but he rejected claiming for AED 10,000 before he cancels my visa and gives me my passport (he is holding my passport). 10 months of working with him (already completed my 3 months probation). There's also a breach of the contract: 1. Working not on the agreed hours (No overtime compensation paid). 2. Salary delay every month. Any advice to take him on through the appropriate quarters to get my visa canceled and get back my passport? He is claiming 10,000 before he gives me my passport and cancels my visa.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I resigned from my job with a 30-day notice because I can no longer work in an unhealthy environment. My mental health is being affected on a daily basis, so I had to resign. My employer is trying to penalize me for not staying on for 90 days. However, it is impossible for me to stay on for 90 days when I am severely unhappy and stressed out. Surely, my employer should take into consideration that I provided a 30-day notice and not penalize me. What should I do?

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.

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 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).