Can Employers Employees on Unpaid Leave Indefinitely in UAE?

Can Employers Employees on Unpaid Leave Indefinitely in UAE?

Question: I have been put on unpaid leave since May 2020 and my employer wants to extend it until the end of December. He also mentioned the leave might be extended even further until the end of quarter 1, 2021. Can employers put their employees on unpaid leave indefinitely? Also, my boss has not renewed my health cover even though I am still employed by the company.Answer:

Pursuant to your queries, we assume that you are employed in a mainland company based in Dubai. Therefore, the provisions of a ministerial resolution 'concerning the employment stability in establishments of the private sector during the application of precautionary measures to control novel coronavirus outbreak' (Ministerial Resolution No. 279 of 2020); and the provisions of Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013 concerning health insurance