I terminated the services of an employee. How can I cancel his visa if he refuses to sign the clearance of dues?

Questions & Answers

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Claiming compensation for arbitrary termination from employer

Q: Dear consultants, I have been terminated based on restructuring and redundancy. I am working in this free zone company for more than 10 years and had a periodic promotion in work and salary (I have an unlimited contract). 1 - Am I supposed to get 3 months salary compensation based on the arbitrary termination of an unlimited term contract, although they have mentioned 2-month salary as goodwill payment and 1 month notice period salary? 2 - They mentioned "you are entitled to 1 month notice period commencing 10 Nov-19 date and this letter constitutes such notice. you are not required to work your notice period and your last working day in the office as agreed will be 10 Nov-19, we have mutually agreed to pay your notice in lieu on or shortly after your cessation date (10 Nov-19), subset to exit clearance." In this case, can the employer still force me to work in the notice period?

Nov 12, 2019

803

Terminating an employee during the probation period and deducting his due salaries

Q: Hi, I got terminated by the company during the probation period. I have 2 months' salary pending. They told asked me to sign the work permit cancellation and after cancellation, the pending salary will be issued to me. I signed and the cancellation is done. Now, they are saying that the pending salaries are deducted for visa cost and other expenses; your visa is canceled and you don't have any relationship with the company. What can I do now?

Feb 11, 2021

474

How to guarantee labour rights before signing the cancellation paper

Q: Good morning All, I was terminated by my company in March 2020 for not signing the unpaid leave document given to me. I was terminated on 23rd March 2020. Once termination letter was signed, ever since then, I have been chasing my ex-company for releasing the final settlement and each time they come up with a different plan. The last option they gave was to sign an agreement with them for 6 months plan but are not giving me any guarantee cheques and insist that I sign the cancellation papers. I want to simply take my money and leave the UAE. They have also directed me to their lawyers now who insist that any agreement signed with the company is not required to be notarized by Dubai Courts and the company is not legally bound to give me any cheques as a guarantee. The company that I worked for is located in Dubai and is a private organisation.

Jun 4, 2020

535

Is it legal for an employer to demand money to cancel the visa after resigning during probation?

Q: Dear Lawyers, I resigned from my job during the probation period in Sharjah. During the 14-day notice period, my company told me to pay 25,000 AED; otherwise, they would not cancel my visa. Is this legal?

Jun 26, 2024

338

How can a DIFC company protect itself if an employee leaves within the first month?

Q: Dear Lawyers, How does a DIFC company protect itself if an employee leaves within 15 days or 1 month of joining (during the probation period)?

Sep 23, 2024

125

Should I reply to an employer's performance review request after filing a case with the DIFC?

Q: Hi, Should I reply to an employer requesting a performance review after I filed a case with the DIFC authorities? Kind Regards,

Oct 10, 2024

Legal blog

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An Overview of the New UAE Labor Law and Recent Amendments of 2024

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.

Sep 10, 2024

233

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Laws & Regulations

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Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2021 On the Regulation of Labor Relations

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).

Sep 20, 2021

26901

Federal Law No. (8) of 1980 Concerning the Regulation of Labor Relations

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.

Apr 20, 1980

103744

Ministerial Decree No. (765) of 2015 On Rules and Conditions for the Termination of Employment Relations

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.

Sep 27, 2015

12458

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Abdul Wahied Mohammad Sharief

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Can I renew my trade license and visa if I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me?

Hello, I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me due to financial strains last year. My trade license and visa will expire next month, along with my Emirates ID. Is it possible for me to renew my license and visa along with EID prior to settling the execution cases? The trade license and visa were issued by the free zone authority. I look forward to your response. Thanks.

May 1, 2025

How to file a case against my former company for unpaid salary I was not on their visa?

Dear Legal Advice Middle East, I hope you are well. I am seeking legal advice regarding an unpaid salary issue with my former employer, [-----]2 LLC. I was employed with them from December 4, 2024, to January 7, 2025, on a monthly salary of 5,000 AED. However, I only received a partial payment of 2,473 AED on February 24, 2025. The remaining 2,527 AED is still unpaid. I submitted a complaint to MOHRE on March 2, 2025, but I am unable to proceed further through their official channels. This is because I was working under the visa of my previous employer, [---] LLC, and not under [----]’s sponsorship. As a result, I do not meet the criteria to file a labor complaint via the MOHRE app or hotline. Given this situation, I would appreciate your guidance on how I can legally pursue the recovery of my remaining salary, considering the complications related to my visa status during the employment.

Apr 30, 2025

After closing the company, can an investor stay in the UAE until the residence visa expires?

Hello, An investor has a residence visa valid until February 2027; however, he wishes to close the company before the current license expires in December 2025. Can the investor still legally reside in the UAE until the residence visa expires?

Apr 29, 2025

Employer agreed to settle before MOHRE. What if they don’t pay the promised amount?

Hello, I already have a dispute order with MOHRE. Then my employer became willing to settle the case. What should I do in case they do not follow through with the promised amount to pay?

Apr 29, 2025

What can a company do if an employee agrees to stay but then stops reporting to work?

Hello, My employee provided a resignation. Our company offered a salary raise and made a deal with him where he agreed to continue with us, but it’s not on paper. He suddenly stopped coming to work, stating he doesn’t want to work anymore. What rights do we have as a company, and what can we do about it?

Apr 30, 2025