Employment Contracts and Durations

Employment Contracts and Durations

People wishing to work in the UAE are entitled to obtain an employment contract issued and attested by the Ministry of Labour and signed by the employee and the employer.

An Employment Contract, as defined by the UAE Labour Law, is any agreement, either for a limited or for an unlimited period, concluded between an employer and an employee where the employee undertakes to work for the employer and under his management or control for remuneration payable to him by the employer.

The contract should be written in Arabic and may be written in English. The employment contract should state the starting date, type of employment, location, terms and conditions, duration and the salary.

If the employment contract has not been issued from by the Ministry of Labour, the employee can prove his service with the employer by any such means of legal evidence as internal contract concluded between the two parties, appointment letter, payroll or book of attendance, if the employee has one of them.

A copy of the employment contract is kept at the Ministry of Labour (MOL) as a reference. In cases of employment disputes, or end of service, MOL refers to the archived contract copy.

Furthermore, employees and employers can electronically review the contract details by entering the employee's labour card data on the MOL website. A link to the login page is available in the “Helpful Links” column.

New Work PermitsThe Cabinet Resolution No. (25) of 2010 on the internal work permits provided by the Ministry of Labour brought about major changes in the relationship between employers and employees. It introduced several types of work permits under which a citizen or a resident can work in an establishment:

Worker transfer permit: it is the permit which allows a citizen or resident who is already working in the UAE to move from one establishment to another. 

Part-time work permit: this permit enables citizens or residents to take up jobs with fewer hours than normal working hours of full-time employees who undertake the same jobs at the establishment.

Work permit for dependants: this permit allows dependants who are sponsored by one of their family members to undertake a job.

Juvenile work permits: The permit allows citizens or residents aged between 15 years and 18 years to work in an establishment under certain conditions.

Probation PeriodThe probation period of the employee shall not exceed six months and shall not be extended for another term. The probation period is optional and the employer has the right to dismiss the employee during this period without a notice and end of service benefit. However, if the employee successfully completed the probation period and continued in service, the probation shall be calculated as part of his service.

Employee Rights & Duties UAE

Employee Rights & Duties

When you work in Abu Dhabi, you are bound with certain legal obligations and entitlements. Here you will find useful information covering your legal position as an employee in the Emirate. Learn more about various procedures and check your eligibility for holidays, pensions and social welfare.

Wages Protection System

In line with the UAE government efforts and its development and modernisation plans which aim at improving government performance and providing better and faster services to the public, the Ministry of Labour has implemented a Wages Protection System. This system is an important step towards ensuring and protecting the rights of workers, and towards establishing trust between establishments and their employees.

Companies are now obliged to transfer the salaries of their employees through the new system within a period not exceeding nine months. Companies that fail to abide by the decision will be subject to punishments and fines, and will not be able to obtain work permits.

Advantages of the System

• Save time and effort in payment of wages.
• Enhance employee productivity and loyalty.
• Ensure that companies pay employee wages periodically.
• Avoid having employees and employers carry large amounts of cash in the workplace.

How the System Works

In order to participate in this system, companies must select one or more agent from among the agents licensed by the Central Bank. Once the company’s authorised bank receives the employee salaries, it sends a notification to the Wages Protection System. The system then sends the workers' details and wages as well as the salary transfer instructions electronically to the Central Bank of the UAE, which will in turn forward those details to the Ministry of Labour database in order to ensure that the details received correspond with those registered with the Ministry. The system will then send the approved information to the appointed agent in order to start paying the wages.

Workers that do not receive their salaries, or have any concerns regarding the method of payment can report their concerns in person at any of the Ministry's offices or via the login page available in the “Helpful Links” column.

Source:Ministry of Labour website

Why Are People Attracted to Dubai

Job seekers are attracted to the Dubai market because of the fact that earnings are tax-free in Dubai. The UAE federal government and the Emirate of Dubai do not levy any kind of taxes on individual earnings. What you make is entirely yours. For individual income earners, this means having more to send back home or to save.That’s why the Dubai job market is attracting talented professionals and skilled workers from all over the world. From Europe to America, even from Asia-Pacific and Africa, the Dubai workforce represents all five continents and over 100 countries. Besides tax-free earnings, individuals are attracted to jobs in Dubai for any or all of the following reasons:

1. Career opportunities for talented professionals. Professionals looking to expand their practice or explore new markets, even those looking to take on a new career path, find excellent career opportunities in Dubai. Due to rapid development and expansion in the region, many multi-national companies are establishing Middle East headquarters and offshore locations in Dubai. These businesses are tapping into the global talent market that brings together the best of both worlds.

1. Expanded opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled workers. Dubai’s most active industries – construction, hospitality and retail – are enjoying steady growth whilst these industries are almost dormant in neighboring countries. Workers with skills relevant to these industries are naturally attracted to jobs in Dubai where these job opportunities are not available back home.

1. Experience the world in Dubai. There are at least a hundred different nationalities represented in Dubai’s community of residents and tourists. People from different parts of the world find themselves at home here because of the sense of familiarity they get. Hear people speak your native language. Walk into a grocery and find your favorite food. If you feel like exploring the exotic tastes of the Far East, Indian, Chinese and even Filipino restaurants are in town. Make new friendships with people whose backgrounds are entirely different from yours. Dubai’s cosmopolitan feel caters to fashion and trends all over the world.