Q: Dear Sir, I am a UAE resident and I work in a Dubi based company in Deira Dubai. I went on vacation on the 1st of March and supposed to come back to Dubai on 25th of March. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, my company asked me to stay in my home country up to 30th June on unpaid leave. Today my manager called me and asked me to send a resignation letter. I wanted to share with you that I was a good performer in my company and was achieving my targets. Is it legal to ask a resignation while I am on leave and they did not initiate termination but asking me to resign? Please also advise, is the company responsible to pay me full gratuity? And if the company terminates me, then am I also eligible to get 3 months salary as compensation? Please help me to cope with this situation. Thanks and regards, A. Z.

Q: Is it possible for me to terminate a contract if I'm working under pressure? I didn't sign a contract form either and don't even know the term of my contract.

Q: Hi, I am working for a company in Dubai since May 2018. I had resigned in Oct 2018 due to undue pressure and rude behaviour of the employer for the work which was not included in my job description. After consulting with my department who promised me verbally that they will give me support, I was hired for one company and work given to me was of three companies with no compensation. My resignation was not accepted and I was assured that assistance will be provided and another accountant shall be hired for the other companies. Due to a lot of pressure, I could not focus on the core job I was hired for and hence was terminated on 30th Dec 2018 (verbally). This verbal termination has been a part of this every single month and has been torturing and affecting my mental health as well. Passport is held and Dec 18 salary is not paid. Kindly help me with how to approach this situation as I am in terrible financial conditions and want to get paid on time in order to pursue another job.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am under a lot of work pressure from my company's side, and I informed them of all the issues by email. However, I have not received any reply from their side. I can't tolerate the pressure anymore. In this situation, I want to resign immediately without a notice period. Would I pay any compensation to my employer?

An interview-format article covering the topic of employment termination without a valid reason in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. Ludmila discusses the aspects of termination, like notice periods, end of service benefits, arbitrary dismissal, unpaid salaries etc.

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).