Uae Labor Laws
 

Question for the experts:
1. Is a company allowed to force pilots to sign a new contract with less terms and conditions? Current contract 2 years still remaining.

2. If the current contract is not being followed is there any recourse or actions that can be done in regards to UAE labor laws.
Thank you in advance.

Forget it... Ek can chnge the contract as they please by changing the FOM, Employee Handbook. Nothing you can do about it in dubai.:\

Try these guys Ministry Of Labour

Not everybody in the UAE works for EK. I'm guessing he works for Execujet or another management company.


Typhoonpilot

Etihad forced it's 40 most senior pilots to sign a new contract with reduced T&C's. If they didn't sign, they would be terminated. There was no legal recourse.

Yes there is recorse under U.A.E Labor laws, however I would make three points.
- The U.A.E Labor laws are written in Arabic and it costs a packet for an English language translation; They also change by the month subject to... well anything so your going to need to find someone to help you there;

-The legal system isn't too bad but the cost of a lawyer in the Middle East is... well a London lawyer would blush at Middle East prices... well at the cost to an expat, not a local you understand.

-If your employer is that much of an ass do you want the trouble of making waves, potentially getting your visa canceled and rendered persona non grata?

Let's face it our gracious hosts are dam bad losers; do you really want to take them on and win?

Miles: Just for your info, the guy who initiated the ultimatum to the EY pilots is from your neck of the woods. I was told all legal avenues were explored by those affected.

Some corrections/additions to what Miles said:

- You can find an official UAE Labor law here. This English version is amended till 2001.

- A lawyer here is around 1500 dhs/hour. No comment. Those outrageous rates are actually made for B to B!

- You are in a country where an employer can kick you out with NO justified reason, exposing himself to compensate that by paying you a MAX. (by law) of 3 month basic salary, if you ever lodge a complain.

UAE labor law is a big joke, made only to facilitate companies procedures and investment.

If you bring a case to the UAE Ministry of Labour your work Visa is automatically suspended until the outcome of the 'investigation'. My guess is not too many judgements go in the employees favour.

Shortfuel:
The latest labor law is Feb 2009 so a link to a 2001 issue isn't a great deal of use.

Sec3:
That's a shame, it doesn't do anything for the image of Dubai doing things like that.

And

Togalk:
So true!

Well Miles, if you have it, just put a link.

2001 is better than...nothing. And, I don't think there's much changes/amdt in 2009 ver.

The one I put is free, in english and gives you a very good idea where an employee stands.

It's not digital, it's good old paper and having looked back to a 2003 edition there are over 300 changes since then, 2001 is a little out of date.

Togalk,

With respect, you're wrong about the visa suspension. In fact a person's residency / work visa is protected until the action is over. I (and some other colleagues) have recently filed an action against our employer (in DXB), as a result of which the company tried to suspend or revoke our visas. They were told in writing (as we were), by the court, that the law requires that the visas remain in place and valid until the action is finished -- even though some of the people involved were terminated. I have been coming and going for the past 4 months with a valid residency visa, even though I have quit the company.
Having said that, I would endorse the comments of others re having very little faith in any aspect of government in the UAE.
One piece of advice I would give to anyone contemplating legal action: Use an Emirati law firm and Emirati lawyers. If you use an expat firm, or expat lawyer, you will be seen to be waving a colonial flag at the court system.

My two dirhams worth,
Grizz