Questions & Answers
Demanding that an employee pay for visa charges a year after resigning
Dear Lawyers,
I worked at a bakeshop here in Dubai. I resigned exactly one year ago. Now they want me to pay for visa charges, as stated in the offer letter.
If I cannot pay for the charges, my employer will claim financial loss due to the damages, estimated to be at least 7,000 AED.
What should I do about this? My monthly salary is only 2,800 AED.
Dear Questioner,
It is important to review your employment contract and offer letter to understand the terms and conditions regarding the visa charges.
If it is clearly stated in the offer letter that you are responsible for paying the visa charges if you resign within a certain time period, then technically you may be obligated to pay.
However, given that your monthly salary is only 2,800 AED and the amount being requested is 7,000 AED, it may not be financially feasible for you to pay this amount.
You could try to negotiate with your former employer to come to a mutually agreeable solution, such as setting up a payment plan or offering to pay a portion of the amount owed.
If your former employer is threatening to take legal action or claim financial losses, you may want to seek legal advice to understand your rights and options in this situation.
It is important to communicate openly and honestly with your former employer and try to come to a resolution that works for both parties.
Dear questioner,
Following Article 6.4 of UAE Labour Law, the employer is prohibited from charging recruitment or visa fees.
I would like to assist you in filing a case in MOHRE requesting damages from the employer.
Please feel free to reach out to me at [------] or [------] to provide you with further assistance.
