Q: I'm working in a 5-star hotel for more than 13 years in the engineering department. Last 3 years engineering administration make my duty roster for 12 hours working schedule during Ramadan without any compensation. Kindly advice me what type of legal action applicable to this illegal practice.

Q: I have been working with a private company for 2 years and 10 months on an unlimited contract. Three months ago my employer cut Dh 3000 from our salaries and later asked us to sign a letter saying that we accept a deduction until the company's financial condition improves. There has been no change in the contract though. My employer also increased our working hour by 30 minutes every day, for which we were sent an email. My questions are: 1. If I leave the company, can I claim the salary which has been deducted back? 2. Will my final dues be calculated based on the salary mentioned in my contract or the reduced salary? 3. Can I ask for overtime for the increased hours? It is mentioned in my contract that overtime will not be paid. ***

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have been working in a Dubai free zone company for the last 3 years as a security guard. For almost 1 year, I have been working without any days off. It is mentioned in my contract that I have to work 48 hours a week and 3 hours fixed overtime. But after working for 1 year continuously, they started to give us 2 days off for 2 years. Now, I resigned from the company. The end of service department has told me that they'll not give me that overtime. So can you guide me how can I get my overtime? Thank you

Q: Hi. I am working on the Food and Beverage industry here at Dubai and this coming Ramadan our employer issued a schedule with 8-hour working time and no break. Is this legal? Thank you! P.

Q: Can the company make the employee work in weekend & public holidays?

Q: Hello legal advisers and lawyers, What is the compensation I can get from my employer's violation and abuse of me? - No days off. - 12 hours working per day for 4 months. - On my 5th month it became 24 hours work per day and they give rest only 3-4 hours a day then back to work. For the whole month, even I was crying for refusal. - Not enough food. - Not paid fairly according to working hours. - Refusal from the medical test. - No visible contract. - No medical insurance. - Forced to work 24 hours against my will and reason for me to get too sick, restless and sleepless. - Passport was confiscated by my employer. - Emirates ID was also confiscated by them. - These are the reasons why I left my job to save myself from possible death.

Q: Hello Adv. Ahmed Abbas, Please help me with the below query: Do the normal 8 working hours/day include lunchtime? When an employee is on an hourly rate, is the lunch hour payable? Kind regards,

Q: Dear sir/madam, I am working as a cashier in a spare parts store, but my owner gives loading and unloading work permit to me. Is it legal? I am working 11 hours per day without an overtime salary. The accommodation current bill is deducted from my salary and also the internet. The food expenses are not given so my salary is not enough for me. What are all my rights?

س: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله، أعمل في مغسلة ملابس في أبوظبي بعقد عمل محدد المدة منذ شهر ٢ السابق. يقوم مدير العمل كل يوم بتشغيلي ١٠ساعات يوميًا و٥ ساعات إجازة فقط في الأسبوع ولا يعطيني أوفر تايم. تحدثت معه أكثر من مرة ليعطيني أجر وهو دائمًا يضطهدني ويلومني ويتنمر عليّ ويتحدث معي بأسلوب غير لائق وأكثر من مرة يقول أنه سيلغي العقد مما جعلني في حالة نفسية سيئة. أرسل إخطار بالفصل مدته ٣٠ يوم لي مكتوب بداخله أنني لا ألتزم بتعليمات المدير وأنني أتسبب في خسائر للشركة، وهذا كلام غير صحيح وأنا رفضت التوقيع وأرسل رسالة على الإيميل وجواز سفري معه. ما الإجراءات القانونية التي أتخذها تجاهه؟

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).