Q: Employment non-competition evaluation. Employment contract section 11.

Q: Hello, I would like to know if a non-competition clause also applies when starting a similar business in a niche industry. My non-competition clause is very vague and does not specify the area, industry and it's for 2 years. Does this hold up? And if it doesn't, could they file a civil case? Thank you!

Q: Hi, I have been working in a free zone company for almost four years now. For the last six months, my salary was very irregular and I am receiving it around 25th of the next month. My issue is that I have decided to resign and move to another company. However, I heard that my company is now asking all the employees who are resigning to sign a non-competition document. This document states that we shall not work with any competitor for three years, even though this clause is not mentioned in my employment contract. Since I am working in a technical company and with my experience, I will only be able to find another job with a company which will be in one way or another a competitor. Is this legal? Can the company force me to sign the non-competition document? What will I do if they refuse to give my salary, end of service benefits and experience letter when I resign?

Q: My previous company is claiming that I broke the non-compete clause even though I am working in a completely different field.

Q: My husband was working in a private retail company before. While he was working with them, he helped a friend sell his friend's own designs of t-shirts through Facebook. His previous employer saw that and terminated him and they are accusing him that he is copying their designs and stealing customers by selling his friend's items while working which is not true. He threatened my husband that they will sue him and to avoid that, they're gonna remove him from work and will pay him only the days of his work (15 days) which my husband agreed because he doesn't want any trouble. That's what they did. They didn't pay him his gratuity for staying almost 3 yrs with them as well as airline ticket, vacation leave and public holidays. Now it's been a year since it happened and my husband is already working with another company and suddenly his previous employer saw him in a restaurant and asked him why he is there and threatened him that they are gonna sue him still. What do we need to do? Thank you.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, Can we take any action against a former employee who is directing clients to other companies in the UAE?

Q: Dear Lawyers, I’m returning to Dubai after being away for a month and moving to a client of my previous company. Can my former employer file a case against me three months after my visa cancellation?

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).