Questions & Answers
Request to release the passport in a labour dispute
Dear Respected Lawyers,
I am on management visa from Sharjah whose passport was denied by the employer after completing 13 months of service.
They told me passport can't be given until my client in Iraq settles a business transaction dues the company did. Feeling insulted, I resigned on June 20th 2018 and stopped going to the office waiting for my Iraqi client to visit the UAE.
Finally, the client came to Dubai on August 23rd and showed my employer his account where the client lost more than USD 700,000 because of the mismanagement of the project by the employer.
The employer left the meeting room saying I will never get my passport or visa cancelled. He told if ever I report it to the Labor Department, I will be put into trouble through his contacts with senior police officials.
Finally, I filed my labour complaint today for my visa cancellation. Kindly advise whom should I approach at Sharjah Court to file a petition for getting back my passport on an urgent basis.
Humbly requesting your valued positive advice and assistance.

Dear Sir,
Thank you for getting in touch with me on this issue.
Please note that you are not obliged to recover dues for the company and this cannot be a ground to hold your passport.
Considering you have not completed the notice period after resignation, there might be repercussions for you.
Further, since you have already initiated a labour complaint, the labour office will call the employer and employee (you) for amicable settlement of the matter.
This is the point where you raise a complaint that your employer has, without any authority, held on to your passport.
If there is no amicable settlement, then the case will proceed with the labour court.
Alternatively, you may also get in touch with your home country embassy to help you out with the passport situation.
I trust you will find this helpful.
Regards,
Hari Wadhwana