Q: Good day everyone. I have a cancelled visa and my new employer applied for a work visa. I checked online and it says E-work permit under processing since last Wednesday. The problem is my cancelled visa will be over in three days and I have no idea if I should exit or do what. I am Kenyan. My previous job was stamped as a servant which I stayed for 6 months. My current is reception clerk. I would appreciate any kind of advice. Thank you in advance.

Q: I want to hire a young lady, but her previous employer is holding her passport. They are requesting her to provide an entry visa from the new employer (me). An entry visa is when she exits the country, correct? She will not have to exit if she can get her passport for me to process her new resident visa, correct? Her old employer is based in Abu Dhabi and they state this is how Abu Dhabi does things. I am confused because they shouldn't be holding her passport first of all, and they shouldn't have an entry visa to release her passport. Please advise.

Q: I was working at Dubai airport. I was given 2-year visa to work in the company, my visa will expire on 3rd of August 2017. Along the line, I applied in another company, was given appointment letter and was asked to submit my cancellation letter which I did after collecting it from my former company. When they went to an immigration center, they said in their system it was recorded that I have left Dubai since a year plus while I am still in the country. So they asked me to exit on the 7th of April while my visa will expire on the 3rd of August 2017... since have submitted my cancellation letter my visa is not out yet... someone told me that within 2 weeks visa processing will be done, so I don't know why it is taking too long to be ready. Please ma/sir I need your help. What shall I do? Thank you.

Q: I have just been hired last April with unlimited contract and 6 months probation. I have a question about visa and processing costs. After signing the job offer, they asked me about my attested documents and my passport, so I gave the original for the processing. Then I started working on May 3. Today May 31, I have received my employment visa and expecting to receive my first salary. However, our accounts told me that there would be AED 559 deduction due to Visa Status Change (Which I believe that employer should be the one covering the fee). In addition to this, I have also paid AED 210 for the translation of my papers. Until now, all original documents are with my employer. I plan to resign if he insists on the deduction. Questions: 1. Is it legal to charge me 559 for visa status change and 210 for translation? 2. Should I take my original documents from him? 3. If we have an understanding and we cannot agree, can I not continue the employment? I am still under 6 months probation period.

Q: Hello, If any employee resigns from the organization and we have completed his visa cancellation, can we ask him for proof of his visa change status for our HR records; either a copy of the exit air ticket or a copy of his E-visa to keep our records clean? Can we hold his passport until he releases the change status papers?

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.

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).