Q: For the last 2 years, I worked for a contracting firm. My salary was AED 8000/month but usually, my employer used to give me 2-3k monthly or sometimes less than this. The salary transaction is easily reflect-able on my salary statement. I filed a case in the labour court against my employer for my visa cancellation and due salary payment 3 days ago, but he is not in the mood of settlement. What action should I take against him?

Q: Sir. I am a pharmacist in the UAE working in a company since May this year. I have an unlimited contract and in probation period, but all those months the employer paid me only half salary. When I ask about this they are threatening me that they will terminate me and I have to pay the visa expenses. I need some legal advice regarding this.

Q: Recently, there was a change in the management of our company and my new manager didn't like the way I look. He told me about it and warned me that next time I will be fined. After a week or so, I received a notice that I'm fined of AED 500 for the unprofessional appearance. I work for the company for a long time and I've never had such a kind of complaints before. I believe that my appearance is appropriate. Moreover, there is no strict dress code in our company and I've never seen and never signed any papers in this regard. Does my manager have the right to decide how I look? Is this penalty legal? Do they have the right to deduct it from my salary?

Q: Hi, I want to file a case against my last employer who has failed to settle my last 6 months' salary, and the settlement is approximately more than AED 100,000. I went to Tawafoq Center and registered my complaint. They tried to arrange a meeting, but my employer is not responding at all. So they transferred my complaint to the court and gave me the referral documents. Now, I don't have enough money to hire a lawyer or pay any court fee. I don't know the procedure too. Kindly advise me on the proceedings.

س: السلام عليكم، تم إيقافي عن العمل بدون إنذار، وبسؤال صاحب العمل قال لي ليس لك عندي أي مستحقات وطردني، وللعلم لي راتب شهرين متأخرين وبدل إجازات ومستحقات. رفعت شكوى عمالية وطالبت فيها بمستحقاتي؛ من ضمنها بدل استقطاع من الراتب وهي مجموع 36 شهرًا كان صاحب العمل يستقطع من الراتب ولا يودع الراتب كاملاً. أول 6 أشهر استقطع ما أسماه تكاليف الإقامة والأشهر التي بعدها كل مرة يتحجج بضعف العمل وبجائحة كورونا والمصاريف. قضيتي الآن تحولت للمحكمة. هل أستطيع استرداد الاستقطاعات والمستحقات؟ ولكم جزيل الشكر!

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I currently have an unlimited contract with no notice period provided. However, my residence visa, work permit, and EID are expiring, and the company wants to cut my basic pay under a new contract, which is unacceptable to me. I have served for less than 5 years. I have the following questions: 1. If termination does not occur, can I continue working beyond the expiration of my visa, permit, and EID? 2. Is there a minimum notice period for termination of employment under an unlimited contract after the expiration of my visa, permit, and EID? 3. What is the EOSB after one year but below 5 years as of 2023, one month per year of service or less? Thank you for your assistance!

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My company deducts the fee for my family health insurance monthly from my salary. How can I complain without revealing my identity?

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 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).