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: Hello there, I have been informed by my employer for 34 months, that my position is no longer required in our Dubai free zone office. I was employed in 2014 to take up a Dubai-based position and I was informed that I would be taking over a Middle East Director in two years. They have asked that I relocate to the UK in 3 months to take up the same position, they have given me 1 week to accept this offer. Given that there is no mobility clause in my employment contract and offer letter, would I be within my right to refuse this offer on the grounds that it is unreasonable as we now know that it would take us (a family of 4 with 2 children) longer than 3 months to plan and move the family back to the UK? What rights do I have if my employer were to make my position redundant, would I have grounds to sue for constructive dismissal as my performance has never been in question?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, Is it legal under the UAE labour law to dismiss someone for redundancy, in particular as this is not linked to restructuring, factory closure, business resizing...etc? Regards, EAM

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: Hi, I have been working for a US company since Jan 1st, 2002. On Monday, 20th Jan 2020. I was given a letter of termination which only stated we are terminating your position. I was on a UK contract from 2002 to December 2018 and they forced me to move to a local Dubai contract, I’ve been employed in Jebel Ali Free Zone for the whole duration. I had no prior warning of this, but I was asked to leave immediately and hand in my company laptop and take a 30-day garden leave. I was also given 60 additional days as an ex gratia payment. I have received the final settlement calculations which include gratuity. My question is, is this the correct procedure that should be followed? When are they entitled to cancel my visa? Is it after 30 days or after 90 days? My visa expires on 20th Feb so it looks like this was planned. However, am I entitled to ask them to renew my visa for the full 90 day period? And when do they legally have to pay my end of service benefits?

Q: Hello Experts I need your help to understand and tackle my unemployment in this difficult time. I was working in an FZ company in DMC and my employer terminated my unlimited contract in January 2020 by giving this reason: “The company is not making expected revenue, and to save the cost, the company has decided to outsource my job to one of their offshore offices." I served my two months notice period which ended in March 2020 after that they paid my gratuity as per the UAE law. Now they want me to sign EOS agreement stating “To this effect, I hereby undertake not to claim any compensation from the company on account of termination of the employment relationship.” I cross-checked with the employer, termination is not due to my performance. They terminated my contract on the ground of the aforesaid reason. I want to know, is this “arbitrary dismissal” as per the UAE law? If yes, what are my rights and how can I claim them? Can you please help to understand my case? Thank you and look forward to your response.

Q: Hi, Good day! I just want to ask a question, My contract is unlimited and working with my company for 3 years already here in Dubai. My job is Office Assistant and the office I'm working with didn't renew the contract from my company. Now, my company wants to send me to another Emirate which is Ras Al Khaimah. But I refused the offer because it very far and in my contract, it's written “The second party shall work for the first party in the job/profession within the UAE (Emirate Name: Dubai). My question is do I have the right to refuse? And if my company terminates me, do I have the rights to get my benefits and gratuity? Thank you so much Sir/Ma'am!

Q: Dear sir/madam, If an employee worked for 8 months, is he entitled to a gratuity?

An interview-format article covering the topic of employment termination without a valid reason in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. Ludmila discusses the aspects of termination, like notice periods, end of service benefits, arbitrary dismissal, unpaid salaries etc.

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.

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).