Q: I have been working for an employer for more than 14 years. Now, they have terminated me, and the notice period has completed. Due to harassment, I left to India and the next day emailed them that I have left. They are not willing to pay my settlement and dues. Instead, they sent me an email that they are filing a case against me for absconding and not being present there for auditing. I am sure to win the case they will play dirty games.

Q: My brother in law is in jail for taking AED 12 million from his company and he is in jail (Abu Dhabi, UAE) under remand. I don't know whether he had taken the money or not, but his employer is saying he had taken it and given him a confession letter. I don't know about the confession they took. I had not seen him because it happened last week and I am not able to go and meet him as it is very far from my house and also I have no blood relation.  I need to take permit from the prosecution department. I trying to meet him by next week. Kindly advise me what I need to do. Also, advise me on: 1. Suppose the above thing has happened, how many years he needs to be in jail? 2. If it is a false case by the employer, how will we prove his innocence? 3. Will the court give a chance to him to prove he is innocent and how? Please note that he has no advocate. 4. I assume this will be a false case as the employer is saying he started doing so for the last three years. This company had every year annual audit and they did not find.

Q: Hi, I need advice. I have been working for the last 30 years, and the last 10 years were with one company. I have received termination stating harassment while requesting for a face to face check with the people, facts were not disclosed. Now, they have informed me that they'll detain my gratuity amount which I feel I deserve. Harassment case - it was a complaint raised by few colleagues stating improper touching, which was not the actual case. Hence, received a termination for the same. Never given a chance to speak. However, I have not been such a person and have not done such a thing in overall 30 years of service. Now, gratuity has been held considering the harassment clause.

Q: Hi Sir, I have a case in Dubai Courts for the embezzlement of 30500. When I appeared in front of the judge in the 1st hearing, they asked me if I did it or not. I said I did not, then they said I need to submit my reply in Arabic to defend myself. What will be the charges from the court if I lose the case and where can I get it translated to Arabic?

Q: I am the manager of a boutique retail store in Abu Dhabi. My company has not been earning money, details I am privy to due to the report I send to the owners, my boss. I know they considered filing bankruptcy last year when his loan application was denied. Now, my boss is suddenly accusing me of theft a week before my vacation. He says items are missing in the inventory. When I joined 2 years ago the inventory wasn't complete, and when we changed the systems this year, items were not migrated properly. I suspect this is their way of regaining back loss, accusing me of theft. How do I protect myself?

Q: Hi. I have filed a court case against my ex-employer for not paying my pending salaries and final settlement even after 4 months of my resignation and serving the notice period, and finally mutually agreed on labour and VISA cancellation. Today in the court 2nd hearing, the employer's lawyer has given a bunch of documents against which I have to reply. The document mentioned FALSE STATEMENT that the employer has already paid all my pending salaries and even my final settlement. Also, the document states that I have not provided the required PROJECT'S COST VARIANCE REPORT for the projects which I was handling. The fact is I have not received my two months salaries and not even my final settlement which includes the gratuity and the leave salary. I have provided them with all the COST VARIANCE sheets for my projects and I have a mail proof of that. I wish to make a strong reply on this with all the legal terminologies. The claim amount is AED 60K. Need guidance to prepare a reply. How far my previous employer can drag this case?

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: Hello Sir, I worked in a private organization in Dubai. I canceled my visa 10 months back. During my visa cancellation, I didn't get my end-of-service settlement. My original settlement amount was 108k, but after negotiation, they offered me 52K and gave me a letter stating they owe me 52K for my pending salary and end of service benefits. But after my cancellation, they always said that they will clear my dues shortly. I waited for 10 months, then I filed a labor complaint. During the amicable discussion with MOHRE, my owner said that he will not pay me because I made a financial loss to the company. I didn't make any loss to the company. Can he make any fake documents to show his loss against me? Kindly advise on how should I approach the court to solve my problem.

Q: Dear sir/madam, I was working with a free zone company in Dubai and they terminated me based on an illegal record submitted by a customer within an hour by giving me one month's notice. However, when I informed them that my contract states that termination is not before less than 3 months' notice, HR started threatening me with confidentiality and article 120, etc. I need help to get my money because HR initially didn't see my contract and later when they checked after my email, they are trying to save their bosses money. If I go with a case, can they add more accusations based on their claim? Or will the case be based on the termination letter which was handed out without any warning ever? Please guide! Thanks,

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 Law promulgates the Federal Penal Code (Criminal Law) of the United Arab Emirates. Crimes and chastisement punishments shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other penal codes.

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).