Questions & Answers
Can an employee be charged for resignation during probation period?
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
Dear Mr. Griskevicius,
Thank you for your questions. I am pleased to answer them.
During your probation period, it is your right to resign from your position at any time without a notice period.
The employer is not entitled to any compensation by the employee or to withholding your passport. It is also his obligation to follow up on the cancellation of your visa even if it is still under process.
I would advise to get in touch with the labor department of the relevant free zone and bring your case to their attention. They are normally quite supportive and know what to do.
In case you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. Our experts are assisting our clients in all issues related to labour law, from the pure legal advice to the representation before the local courts.
Tel.: +971 4 288 8245
Email: suraya@germela-lootah.com
Best regards,
Suraya Turk
