Q: Hi Sir, I worked for a travel agency for 3years, as accounting manager; when wanted to come back to my home country I resigned from my job in July 2017. My employer didn’t pay my dues and didn't make any final settlement amount. Being trusting the manager I signed the end of services form for visa cancellation. He promised me to make the payment once the visa is cancelled, but after cancellation, he started harassing me saying I have manipulated his accounts and stole his money and tortured me. Finally, he made me sign a document that I have adjusted amount which was approx 50,000 Dhs, for my mistakes in white paper and gave my passport and I left Dubai in July. I have 1 loan of 30,000 and 10,000 credit with banks, who are after me to make the payment. Is there anything I can do to get my money? Pls, help me I want to clear my dues in Dubai. Thanks in advance. Regards, Sk

Q: Hi, Good day. I have been working with a company for 5 years and a half. Then I applied for my resignation (with a 1 month notice period as per my contract) and my service ended on June 30, 2018. A month after, my manager contacted me and asked me to sign some "pre-termination" paper. When I asked about my gratuity payment, He mentions that I can get it within a month or two and that if I still didn't receive it, I can still have grounds for complaint that I can submit to the Ministry of Labour. However, I still declined to sign any letter. They then just told me that they'll contact me if ever the cheque is ready. My question is: - Was my action right by not signing any papers considering I had no guarantee of receiving my gratuity? - Also, since I'm still looking for a job currently (and I want to settle things amicably), is it an option for me to simply just wait it out until they contact me again with regards to my cancellation and gratuity? Thank you and have a nice day.

س: السلام عليكم ويعطيكم العافية، بعد عملي مع شركتي السابقة لمدة سنتان، قدمت استقالتي ووافقوا عليها. تأخرت الشركة أكثر من ٢٠ يومًا في إيداع مستحقاتي لكنني لم أكترث بالتأخير لأنني قلت أن بيننا عيش وملح ولن يحرموني منها أو ينقصوها؛ لكن توقعاتي كانت خاطئة. حاولوا حرماني من بعضها ومع إصراري على باقي المستحقات لم يوافقوا، فأخبرتهم بأني أرجو منكم الحل السلمي بدون اللجوء للقضاء، لكن ما فعلوه في اليوم التالي أنهم رفعوا ضدي بلاغ هروب! أريد التنويه إلى أني فتاة. أرجو أن تخبروني وتدلوني؛ ماذا يمكن أن أقدم ضد الشركة من مطالبات قانونية كضرر نفسي وغيره، لأن ما حصل فيه ظلم كبير لي، فماذا يمكن أن أفعل؟ وكيف آخذ حقي؟ جزاكم الله خيرًا!

Issue: An employee resigned from the job after working for 5 years, and signs a letter addressed to the employer that he wants his gratuity to be paid only after his customer pays the employer. Therefore, has the employer defaulted for End of Service (EOS) payment under the UAE Labour Law?

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.

إن الاستشارات القانونية هي أحد أهم أعمال المحاماة، وقد يعتقد البعض أنه ليس من الضروري تعيين محامي متخصص لأعمالهم أو شركاتهم إلا في حال التعرض لمشاكل قانونية، إلا أن حقيق الأمر تتطلب الحذر دائمًا، فبدلًا من أن تواجه ردود أفعال غير مرغوب فيها قد تكلفك الكثير من الوقت والجهد والمال، يمكنك الحصول على استشارة قانونية أياً كانت قيمتها فلا تقارن بقيمة الخسائر المادية والمشاكل القانونية التي قد تنتج عن التصرف بدونها، ولعل كثرة القضايا والمنازعات سببها عدم أخذ الرأي القانوني من أهل الخبرة.

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).