Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to know whether we are required to pay gratuity to domestic workers under the latest law. If so, from which year, as we have a few domestic workers who have been working for my boss for more than 20 years? However, I came across the following news article: End of Service Gratuity for domestic workers in the U.A.E. has been amended, by virtue of the new law governing domestic workers, which came into effect in December of 2022. The new law, U.A.E. Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 on Domestic Workers, canceled the previous law, U.A.E. Federal Law No. 10 of 2017 on Domestic Workers. Unlike the earlier law, the new law does not set out specific entitlement to the end-of-service gratuity. This decision was further clarified by the Cabinet Resolution No. 106 of 2022 re: Domestic Employees, which was issued in January 2023. Therefore, at present, there is no legal authority in support of gratuity entitlement for domestic workers.

Q: I have had a domestic worker ‘nanny‘ under my sponsorship for 7 years. She decided suddenly to terminate our existing contract which will end after 4 months and ran away with her boyfriend! Tried to negotiate with her to come back till I search for a replacement but unfortunately, she did not agree. I usually take her with me to renew her working visa and contract in TADBEER. But last year, after reaching there, my son was sleeping in my car and she stayed with him. I had to sign the work contract on my behalf and her behalf in front of the officer who told me it is ok as she was our nanny for 6 years that time. I’m not sure if I finger stamped on her behalf or not. My question is: can she file a case that I signed on her behalf on the maid contract? If she did this, what will the consequences be on me? Thanks!

Q: Good morning. What can I do when my boss refuses to give me an annual vacation as a housemaid? Please help.

Q: Hello, I'm a domestic worker, and recently I realize that my EID is different from all my friends from the same agency. Mine doesn't have an indication about sponsor name or occupation, it's just plain. I never saw my residence visa since the employer is keeping my passport. I also haven't seen the ID up close, they only sent me a digital picture of it. I once called the labor office to enquire about my contract since the office I came from refused to send it to me, unfortunately, I'm not in the labor system. So my question is, will this be a problem in near future? Let's say when the visa is being canceled, and what visa am I on because it doesn't look like a domestic worker one to me.

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.

According to this Decree, tentative approval to admit a foreign worker for the purpose of employment in the UAE cannot be granted until an Employment Offer that conforms with the Standard Employment Contract is duly signed by the employee and presented to the Ministry of Labour.

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).