Q: Good morning sir, I had been working as a senior site engineer for a good contracting company in Dubai. Meanwhile, I was totally trapped by Al Faisaliyah contracting company, Dubai. The company gave me a better offer and position and told me to join fast. When I got an offer letter I resigned from the last employer and exit from the UAE for getting a visa from the new company. But the company sent me one visit visa and told me that when I arrive in the UAE they will immediately change it to the employment visa. When I joined here they told me they will change it as early as possible. Last two months I had to work believing their words. Now I came to know it was totally a trap and they have no labour quota because of 4-month pending salaries to staff. When I realized they are cheaters, I resigned and told them I cannot work illegally here. Also, they didn’t pay me the salary for two months. All the staff here are working with expired visa and same like me. Now I want my salary. Is there any legal way to move???

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 am on a visit visa, and there are 2 days left on the visit visa. I am applying for 2 years to a transport company, but still, no approval. I have to leave the country before the visit visa expires. Any suggestion to approve the visa quickly?

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.

According to this Decree, tentative approval to admit a foreign worker for the purpose of employment in the UAE cannot be granted until an Employment Offer that conforms with the Standard Employment Contract is duly signed by the employee and presented to the Ministry of Labour.

By this Decree Ministry of Labour of the UAE has removed the six-month labour ban for those who changed the job before completing two years of service. Labour ban will be still applicable for workers that qualify for skill level 4 and 5 under various circumstances.

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).