Q: Hello Mr Naser, I am on an unlimited term contract that started on April 8th and I have been terminated with a 3-month notice period that ends on December 11th. According to my line manager, my probationary period was already completed. Having not found a new job as yet, I asked the company HR if I could keep the visas for just another month and they flatly declined, stating that according to their policies they cannot. I have given few interviews and been waiting for responses. Since this is the Christmas season where all expatriates mostly leave to their homelands, getting a response during this time is very slim and hence I had asked for the 1-month extension. My family consists of my wife, I and 2 kids who are going to school. Doesn't the UAE labour law stipulate any regulations for the person that is terminated and have school going kids who are just in their 1st term of the academic year? Please advise if there is anything I can do legally or not. Thank you!

Q: Can I take the holiday leave during the probation period?

Q: Hi, I'm working in Dubai for the past three months and I'm in the probation period. Can I get leave for 10 days when I'm in my probation period?

Three new ministerial decrees containing a new set of rules for the labour market were issued by the UAE Ministry of Labour last year and came into force on the 1st of January this year. The decrees are expected to alter the contractual relationship between employers and workers in the UAE.

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).