Employees need not pay visa costs
Q: I would like to know whether an employee has to pay Dh5,000
as visa charges if for some reason he has to cancel his employment
visa after six months of employment. Is there any law in the UAE
wherein the employer can ask for the money before cancelling the visa
of his employee?
A: Pursuant to your queries, it may be advised that where an
employee seeks to terminate his employment contract, the employer
shall not be legally entitled to receive from the employee, any amount
of money against the cost of visa incurred by the employer.
It may also be noted that there are no laws which prescribe that an
employee should reimburse the employer towards the visa expenses.
Rather it shall be deemed to be in contravention of Article 60 of the
Federal Law No 8 of 1980 Re: Regulation of Labour Relations which
states:
"No amount of money may be deducted from a worker's wage in respect of
private claims, except in the following cases:
1) Repayment of loans or money advances paid to the worker in excess
of his entitlements, provided that the amount deducted in this case
shall not exceed 10 per cent of his wage.
2) Contributions that the workers are required by law to make from
their wages, towards social security and insurance schemes.
3) The worker's contributions to a provident fund or repayment of
loans due thereto.
4) Contributions towards any welfare scheme or in respect of any other
privileges or services provided by the employer and approved by the
labour department.
5) Fines imposed upon the worker for any offence he commits.
6) Any debt exacted in execution of a court ruling, provided, however,
that the deduction made in execution thereof should not exceed
one-quarter of the wage due to the worker. Where there are several
debts or creditors, the maximum deduction shall be half the worker's
wage, which shall be divided pro rata among the creditors, after
payment of any legal alimony to the extent of one quarter of the
worker's wage."
(KT)
What is UAE labour Law?
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (113)
The employment contract is deemed to be terminated in any of the
following cases: –
In the event of mutual consent by both parties to terminate the
contract provided that the employee’s consent is made in writing. –
On expiry of the period specified in the contract unless the contract
is expressly or implicitly extended in accordance with the provisions
of this Law.
At the option of either party in unlimited contracts provided that the
provisions of this Law regarding warnings and acceptable causes for
termination of the contract without abuse are fully complied with.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (114)
A contract of employment shall not expire by reason of death of the
employer unless the subject matter of the contract is related to him
in person. However, the contract shall terminate by reason of death of
the employee or in case of his total disability to perform duties
established by a medical report approved by the competent State
Medical Authority.
If partial disability of an employee permits him to perform different
duties which conform with his health state, the employer shall
transfer the employee, at the latter’s request, to another job of such
other duties and shall pay him the remuneration normally paid by the
employer in similar cases without prejudice to entitlement and
indemnity accrued to the employee in accordance with this Law.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (115)*(* Amended by Federal Law No. (12)
of 1986.)
If the employer has terminated an employment contract with a limited
period, for reasons other than those provided for under UAE Labour Law
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (120) hereof, he becomes liable for payment of
compensation to the employee against damages sustained by him,
provided that the sum of compensation in all events, may not exceed
the total pay due to him for a period of three months or for the
remaining period of contract whichever is shorter, unless the terms of
the contract provide otherwise.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (116)(* Amended by Federal Law No. (12)
of 1986.)
If the contract has been terminated on part of the employee, for
reasons other that those provided for under UAE Labour Law UAE LABOUR
LAW ARTICLE (121) hereof, the employee becomes liable for compensating
the employer against losses incurred by him in consequence of contract
termination, provided that the amount of compensation, may not exceed
half a month’s pay for a period of three months or for the remaining
period of contract whichever is shorter, unless the terms of the
contract provide otherwise.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (117)
1. The employer and employee may terminate the employment contract
with unlimited period, for a valid reason at any time after conclusion
of the contract by written notice duly given to other party, thirty
days at least prior to termination.
2. In respect of daily pay employees period of notice shall be as
follows:
On week in the employee has worked for more than six months but less
than one year.
Two weeks if the employee has worked for at least one year.
One month if the employee has worked for at least five years.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (118)
The contract shall continue to be valid throughout the period of
warning referred to in the preceding Article and shall expire with the
expiry date of the warning. The employee shall be entitled to full pay
during the notice period on the basis of last pay he earned, and he
shall have to perform his duties during such period if so instructed
by the employer. It may not be agreed to waive or reduce period of
warning but it may be agreed to increase such period.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (119)
If the employer or the employee has failed to serve notice to the
other party for termination of the contract or has reduced the notice
period, the party obliged to serve the notice shall pay to the other
party an indemnity called “Compensation in lieu of notice“, and it is
incurred by the other party as a result of failure to give notice or
for reduction of said period, and the indemnity shall be equal to the
employee’s pay for the notice period in full or in proportion to the
diminished part. In regard to employees on monthly, weekly, daily or
per hour work pay the notice allowance shall be computed on the basis
of last pay earned by them. With regard to employees paid on piece
work basis, allowance shall be calculated on the basis of the average
daily pay provided for in UAE Labour Law UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (57)
hereof.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (120)
The employer may dismiss the employee without notice in the following
cases:
1. If the employee adopts a false identity or nationality or if he
submits forged documents or certificates.
2. If the employee is appointed under a probationary period and
dismissal occurred during or at the end of said period.
3. If he commits an error causing substantial material loss to the
employer provided that the latter advises the labour department of the
incident within 48 hours from having knowledge of the same.
4. If the employee violates instructions concerning safety of the
place of business provided that such instructions are displayed in
writing at conspicuous places and in case of an illiterate employee
the latter be informed verbally of the same.
5. If he fails to perform his basic duties under the contract of
employment and persists in violating them despite formal investigation
with him in this respect and warning him of dismissal if the same is
repeated.
6. If he divulges any secrets of the establishment where he is
employed.
7. If he is awarded final judgement by the competent court in respect
of an offence prejudicing honour, honesty or public morals. 8. If
during working hours he is found drunk or under the influence of drug.
9. If in the course of his work he commits an assault on the employer,
the manager or any of his colleagues. 10. If he absents himself
without lawful excuse for more that twenty intermittent days or for
more than seven successive day during one year.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (121)
The employee may leave the service without notice in the following
cases: a. If the employer does not fulfil his obligations towards the
employee as provided for in the contract or in this Law. b. If the
employer of his legal regal representative has committed an act of
assault against the employee.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (122)
Termination by the employer of an employee’s service is considered
arbitrary if the cause for such termination has nothing to do with the
work. In particular, termination is considered arbitrary if the
employee’s service has been terminated on grounds, or a reasonable
complaint lodged by him to the competent authorities, or on grounds of
a justifiable action brought by him against the employer.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (123)*(* Amended by Federal Law No. (12) of
1986. )
a. If the employee has been arbitrarily dismissed, the competent court
has the jurisdiction to give judgement against the employer for
payment of compensation to the employee. The court shall determine the
amount of this compensation, taking into consideration the nature of
work sustained by the employee, period of service and after
investigation of dismissal circumstances. Provided that in all cases
the amount of compensation should not exceed the employee’s pay for a
period of three months, to be worked out on the basis of last pay due
to him. b. The provisions of the preceding clause shall not prejudice
to the employee’s entitlement to the gratuity due to him and notice
period provided for in this Law.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (124)
The employer may not terminate the service of an employee for his
health deficiency before he avails himself of the leaves lawfully due
to him. Any agreement to the contrary is deemed null and void even if
it is made before this Law comes into operation.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (125)
The employer shall provide the employee at the end of his service and
at the latter’s request with an end of service certificate free of
charge. Said Certificate shall include date of appointment and date of
termination, total period of service, nature of work performed by him
and his last pay plus allowances, if any. Certificates or diplomas,
papers and tools belonging to the employee shall be returned to him.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (126)
If any change takes place in the form of the establishment or in its
legal status, valid contracts at the time of change shall continue to
exist so between the new employer and the employees of the
establishment, and service shall be deemed to be continuous. Both the
former and the new employers shall jointly be liable for a period of
six months for the fulfillment of obligations arising from contracts
of employment in the period prior to such change and after the lapse
of the said period the new employer shall be solely responsible.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (127)
If work assigned to the employee allows to acquaint with the
employer’s clients or have access to the secrets of his work, the
employer may oblige the employee that after termination of the
contract he may not compete with him or take part in any business
interest competitive to the employer’s. Such agreement shall be valid
only if the employee has reached the age of 21 years at the time of
its being executed and if the agreement is limited with respect to the
place, time and nature of work to the extent as is necessary to
safeguard the lawful interest of business.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (128)
Any non-national employee who absents himself from work without lawful
reasons prior to the end of the contract for a limited period, may not
take up employment elsewhere even with the consent of the employer for
one year after the date on which he absented himself from duties. And
no other employer who is aware of that may employ or keep such
employee in his service during such period.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (129)
If the non-national employee has notified the employer of his desire
to terminate the contract with unlimited period and has absented
himself from work before the end of the legal notice period, he may
not take up employment elsewhere before the lapse of one year from
date of absence from work, even with consent of employer, and no other
employer, who is aware of the case may recruit him or keep him in
service before the end of such period.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (130)
The provisions of UAE Labour Law UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (128) and
(129) exempt non-national employee who obtains prior approval of the
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs before taking up another
employment with the approval of the original employer.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (131)
Expenses for repatriation of an employee to his place of origin or any
other place agreed upon by both parties shall be borne by the
employer. If the employee after the end of his contract takes up
employment somewhere else, repatriation expenses upon termination of
his service shall be paid by the last employer subject to the
provisions in the preceding clauses, and if the employer has failed to
repatriate the employee and has not paid the repatriation expenses,
the competent authorities shall do this at the employer’s expense by
way of attachment. If the cause for termination of contract is
attributed to the employee, his repatriation will be arranged at his
own expense if he has the mean to pay.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (131) (REPEATED) (* Added by Federal Law
No. (12) of 1986.)
1. In application of the provisions stated in the preceding clause,
the expenses of employer’s repatriation shall mean the cost of his
travel ticket and whatever is provided for in the employment contract
or in the bylaws of the Establishment, such as the employee’s
entitlement to travel tickets for his family and costs for shipment of
his luggage.
2. In the cases where the employer provides the employee with
accommodation, the employee shall be obliged to vacate the
accommodation within a period not to exceed thirty days from the date
of his service termination.
3. The employee may not delay vacation of accommodation, thereafter,
for any reason whatsoever, provided that the employer fulfills his
obligation towards the employee with respect to the followings:
Expenses defined in Clause (1) under this Article.
End of service remuneration and any other dues assumed by the employer
under the employment contract or the bylaws or the Law.
4. However, if the employer raised a dispute with respect to the
amount of expenses and dues referred to above; the competent labour
Department shall determine urgently the amount of such expenses and
dues, within one week of a notification being sent to it, provided
always that after such determination is made by the Labour Dept. the
employee must be informed forthwith.
5. In such a case, the validity of the thirty days period referred to
in Clause 2 under this Article, shall take effect from the date, the
employer deposits the expenses and dues determined by the labour
Department, with the treasury of Labour Dept. as a trust. If however
the employee has failed to vacate the accommodation after expiry of
the said thirty days, the Labour Department, in cooperation with the
competent authorities in the concerned Emirate, will take the
necessary administrative action to secure vacation. 6. No provisions
under this Article is deemed to prejudice the right of employee to
litigate thereabout before the competent court.
UAE LABOUR LAW ARTICLE (131-a-1)( Added by Federal Law No. (14)
of 1999.)
1. Employer shall undertake to submit a bank guarantee to the
competent labour department. The type, amount, procedures and
companies and establishments subject to this condition, as well as
other relevant provisions shall be defined by a Cabinet Resolution.
Such guarantee shall be for the good performance of the employer’s
obligations stipulated in Articles 131 and 131-a herein.
2. Deduction of amounts from the bank guarantee mentioned in para (1)
of present article shall be by virtue of a court judgement, except for
the following:
Return expenses of the employee to his home country or wherever as
agreed with employer.
Amounts acknowledged by employer before the competent labour
department as entitlements of employee. In both cases, the Ministry
may deduct such entitlements from the guarantee referred to in Para
(1) hereof and pay the same to the employee to settle his dues.
Ministry of Labour Toll Free Help Line 800
665.
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