Q: Does my employer have the right to hold my cancellation paper and passport after they cancelled my visa? As per my employer, I need to hand over the works properly and get the signature of my project manager. I already handed over all work to my colleagues and they already signed also, but the project manager won't sign it for no reason. My visa was cancelled already last May 21, 2018. Please help. Should I file a complaint against them?

Q: I have been disputing with my employer to release my passport as I have informed them that I will not sign the cancellation forms for my residence visa till I get my passport in my possession as I'm aware that the employer has no right to retain my passport for whatever reason. The employer stated that they will only release my passport when I sign the cancellation form plus show them that I have received my new visa or leaving the UAE within the 30 days grace period. I have repeatedly informed them that they don't have the right, but they keep telling me it's a new procedure that they need to hold my passport till I get a new work visa or leave the country within the grace period. In my offer and my labor contract, there is no statement or I have given them a written consent in the first place to hand over my passport. Please advise if I can open a case with regards to this.

Q: I have resigned from my company and I got my pending dues also. But my passport is with them. As per them, they will release the passport but I should have another visa or a flight ticket to my home country. Please advise

An interview-format article covering the topic of an employer demanding to hold an employees passport. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of LAWGICAL with LYLAW.

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).