New UAE labour law explained: What employees need to know before quitting a job

New UAE labour law explained: What employees need to know before quitting a job

Top UAE legal experts discuss recent updates during employers forum

dubai rent, office rent, covid

Published: Tue 7 Jun 2022, 6:05 PM

UAE private sector employees need to give a minimum 14-day notice period to their employees if they plan to resign during the probation period, a top legal expert told audiences in Sharjah on Tuesday.

“During the probation period, employees must give 14 days’ notice to resign if they are leaving the UAE and a one-month notice period if they are leaving to join another employer in the UAE,” said Dr Ahmad Al Shehi, legal expert and head of labour complaints at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization.

Also, where an employee leaves during the probationary period to join another employer in the UAE (or returns to the UAE to work within three months), the old employer may claim the costs of recruitment from the new employer.

Dr Shehi was speaking at the second forum for employers, organised by the Labour Standards Development Authority (LSDA) in Sharjah.

Including the above-mentioned, significant changes have been introduced to family leave entitlements, discrimination laws, termination of employment and ‘non-compete’ clauses in employment contracts drafted after February 2022.

Federal Decree – Law No. 33 of 2021 on the regulation of