Questions & Answers
Illegal pressure and retention of passport by the employer
Dear Sir/’adam,
My two-year contract ends on June 12th, 2023. I submitted a request for marriage leave from March 1st to April 10th, with plans to return on April 11th, but management denied my request due to the contract period, even though I have 20 days of paid leave remaining.
The management is now pressuring me to renew my contract and go on vacation or resign from the job in order for them to find a replacement.
They are also holding my passport.
Please advise!
Dear questioner,
It is illegal for your employer to keep your passport.
In fact, employers in the UAE who withhold workers' passports can be jailed and fined up to 20,000 dirhams.
If your employer keeps your passport and refuses to return it to you, you can go to the nearest police station, or you can go to your embassy in the country to file a complaint.
Please be aware that you have all the necessary rights and privileges to have your own passport and you have all the rights to question your employer if your employer insists on keeping it with him.
I hope what I mentioned above makes the point you are asking about for help!
