Q: Dear Sir/Madam, Can my employer put me on an "absconding" list after termination? My visa has not been canceled yet, but it has been 20 days since I was terminated.

Q: Dear Madam Reputed con company terminated me giving a 1-month notice period. After the notice period, the company cannot cancel my Dubai visa due to a travel ban and criminal case. The company now asks me to clear the case immediately, otherwise, they will notify me as absconding. Is it possible by the company to notify absconding, and still I have regular contact with the company?

Q: I am in Abu Dhabi and I have an absconding case in MOL but my visa is still valid, so can I travel to my country?

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.

There are laws and international conventions in place to protect workers’ rights and ensure their wellbeing. Specifically, under the UAE Labor Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), there are established procedures for terminating employment contracts.

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).