Q: I joined a Dubai based company as GM in May 2016 and resigned with a one-month notice from 1-05-17 to 31-05-17. My boss told me to prepare accounts and clear issues ‘AFTER MY RESIGNATION’ (Used these words specifically in a letter) and took a security cheque (Blank dated) with a letter signed to this effect. Within 37 days I compiled that data with satisfaction on 7-06-2017, and in the presence of auditors, my boss processed my visa cancellation. My boss advised verbally to collect my gratuity and security cheque later on. After one month of cancellation, my boss filed a complaint in the Labour Department that I joined his competitors whom I started working with them. Four months after cancellation, he deposited my security cheque in the bank without my knowledge and it was dishonoured. I filed a complaint in Labour, but the matter was referred to the court. My boss did not recruit a new GM for the last five months, and things got messed up. Now, he is putting all the blame on me for his mismanagement and I am working in a new company now. I want my security cheque back with my Gratuity. Please advise.

Q: Last April 19, 2018, the company that I am working with issued a demobilization letter terminating my services due to the projects being at their finality. I accepted the letter and prepared everything for my departure after 30 days. They asked me to sign the cancellation of visa letter but I refused because I want my final settlement first. I was supposed to leave on May 19, 2018, but still, the final payment was not yet given. So, I stayed until my visa expired last June 10, 2018. I asked them several times about my final payment but they kept on saying there were no funds available. On June 24, 2018, our HR head called me and asked me to sign my visa cancellation and told me that in 2 to 3 days they will give my final payment. I signed the visa cancellation since my visa was already expired that time anyways. To make the story short, up until now they have not paid my final payment and I am still here working in my company without a visa and medical insurance. I will stay until they pay me.

Q: Hi Hari, I am currently working in Abu Dhabi. I had an employment contract with a Dubai company and It has been more than 8 months so far since I resigned. I signed the settlement paper even though my settlement was not made. But I have a mail stating that I am signing this paper for cancellation and still yet to receive my dues. I registered a complaint against my old employer and they are telling me that they will file a criminal case stating that I stole materials, I got a commission from suppliers and subcontractors, which is not true. Please advise.

س: السلام عليكم، لقد اضطررت لتوقيع استقالتي قبل أخذ مستحقاتي. هل يمنعني ذلك من المطالبة بمستحقاتي طبقًا لقانون العمل الإماراتي؟ علمًا بأن عقدي محدد المدة ولم يتم إخطاري كتابة.

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!

س: السلام عليكم، هل يمكنني المطالبة بالتعويض عن تأخر صاحب العمل في تسليمي مستحقاتي والتعنُّت وتأخير الإلغاء وأي تقصير آخر، وذلك في نفس الدعوى العمالية المتعلقة بالمستحقات؟

س: السلام عليكم، قدمت استقالتي من خارج الدولة نظرًا لعدم قدرتي على الرجوع بعد وفاة والدتي وإجرائي جراحة. منذ شهر وأنا أطالب شركتي بمكافأة نهاية الخدمة؛ مرة يخبروني أنهم سيخصمون مديونية مستحقات زوجي من مستحقاتي، وإذا لم أوافق، فلن آخذ مستحقاتي، علمًا بأننا كنا نعمل في نفس الشركة. ومرة أخرى يخبروني أنهم لن يستطيعوا دفع المبلغ نقدًا، ومرة لن يستطيعوا تحويل مستحقاتي إلى حسابي البنكي في دولتي، ومرة لن يستطيعوا تحويل المبلغ إلى حسابي في الدولة. علمًا بأنني أخبرتهم أني فقدت كارت الفيزا الخاص بي، فيتعنتوا بأنهم سيحولون إلى هذا الحساب فقط وأنا أريد مستحقاتي على حسابي البنكي بدولتي نظرًا لعدم إمكانية الرجوع لإصدار كارت آخر في الوقت الحالي. ما الحل؟ يجبروني على الإمضاء على ورقة استلام المستحقات وورقة إلغاء الإقامة. ماذا أفعل؟

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I want to file a labor case against my former employer for the settlement of my pending salary. My complaint to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) did not work out, so I have to move to court. Do all court hearings take place online? Will this case affect my current job, as I am now working for a new company?

An interview-format article covering the topic of filing an employment court case in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

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.

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).