Q: I am working in the HR department in one of the private companies for the last 12 years. Last week I received a redundancy letter from the HR manager terminating me for reducing people. However, the actual reason is something else. I have sent an email to our company helpline on the HR manager and complained about him, and he came to know that I have sent an email to the senior manager. It was only me who got this letter from the HR department. Now, they got a replacement for my position. Can I file a complaint against the company in the labour court? Please advise.

Q: Regarding limited-term contract termination by the employer, I would like to know the benefits; what will I get? Currently, they sent me a termination letter saying that it is due to redundancy and mentioned that my last day of work is April 4, 2018. My employment agreement mentions 1 month but my contract was a limited-term contract. Advise me on this. Should I meet you to discuss it further?

Q: Hi. I have been promoted from Coordinator role to Manager role in February 2017. In these months I have never received any complaint from my manager regarding my performance, no any written notice or warning. A month ago, my manager said that she thinks I have some communication problem, and I cannot work under stress. For that reason, my manager wants to demote me and cut my salary. It has been said in the email without any clarification. Next day, she called me for a meeting to offer me Support position and said that my salary will be decreased by 35%. I agreed verbally, as I have been scared to lose the job if I do not take this offer. There hasn't been any notification in writing provided to me. Now, I have to renew my visa as my company will cancel my old visa to apply for a new one, and I will be requested to sign the letter with the demotion. I don't want to do this, as I think it is illegal. May you please advise what will happen if I refuse to sign that paper and if they will terminate me because of it. Thanks. Tatiana.

Q: One of our employees has made a case against us for the non-payment of the final settlement. While discussing the final settlement before the case filing, the employee had refused to hand over the company laptop and data therein before the payment of notice period salary of 3 months. We have a limited contract with the employee under the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority. The employee was hired in August 2018 and terminated on June 2019. What protection do we have to claim against the employee for unauthorized taking away of company property? Can the court decide ex parte on this case? Can I file a case against the employee for illegal retention of company property? What is my liability?

Q: My company wants to lay me off due to cost-cutting but they hired new staff. Until now I have not received any formal notice of termination, only verbal. Can I file a case against my employer?

Q: Greetings Sir, I have been working in a company in Dubai for 6.5 years starting in 2015. I came for annual leave to my home country in Feb '22 for 1 month. Later my company asked me to extend my leave (unpaid) for 2 months. Thereafter, due to poor financial conditions and ill health, I resigned from my job while staying outside the UAE and directly resigned over email without serving any notice period. Since I was already sent for unpaid long leave, and I resigned due to the above circumstances, will I be eligible for the end-of-service gratuity? Thanks in advance A.

An interview-format article covering the topic of employment contracts in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. Ludmila discusses the aspects of limited and unlimited contracts, like the end of service, notice, arbitrary dismissal...etc.

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).