Q: I worked for a Federal Government entity in the UAE; this entity was created by special decree so it doesn’t have a normal trade license or Labour contracts from MOL. Instead, we have signed employment contract which states it is governed by Labour Law of 1980, other federal laws and will be in the jurisdiction of Abu Dhabi. My employment visa is from the emirate of Dubai as the entity also had a branch in Dubai. I recently resigned from my job serving 3-month notice as mandated by the HR policy. My resignation got accepted within a day and I was advised that this day would be last working day, and my notice period has been waived off. I was just short by 15 days in completing 3 years of my service, and I had planned by cash flows assuming I would be getting paid for the next 3 months. Now, I am in a very bad situation as the employer is insisting I am not legally entitled to 3 months pay. I need your urgent advice on the matter as the Labour Ministry cannot get involved due to the absence of labour contract.

Q: Hello, I am in Dubai and I have got a labour offer letter from a new employer (XYZ). In the interim of cancelling the current employment visa, I have got another offer with a good raise in salary from (ABC). Now, is it mandatory that I have to join the company from which I have got labour offer letter and we have signed, or can I go ahead with the 2nd offer which has been made to me?

Q: I worked in the UAE under visit visa. The company owner has provided me visit visa but did not give me employment visa, and did not give me the salary. I came back to Pakistan. Please tell me how I can file a case under the UAE labour law when I have the offer letter which the company owner gave me, and how long will it take to lodge this case?

Q: I was working in a company in Abu Dhabi for a sheikh and my visa was on his private office. It was for three years and not for two years like the private sector. Also, I had no labour card and my employment agreement was not registered with the Labour Department. Do I follow and apply the labour law 8 of 1980? And in case of dispute, shall I go to the labour court or civil court?

Q: I was the CEO of a private office & group of companies owned by one of Abu Dhabi Sheikhs. My visa was issued for the private office and it was for three years. We both signed a special employment agreement. The agreement was not filed or approved by the Labour Department. I had no labour card. Also, my payroll was not paid through the Wages Protection System of the Labour Department. Does the labour law apply to any dispute with the employer or we should see the provisions of the employment agreement?

Q: How do we get the 50% salary back from the UAE armed forces when an Emirati is in national service?

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).