The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced a new amendment to the labour law in the UAE.
The Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 regarding the Regulation of Labour Relations by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE is effective from 2 February 2022.
The new labour law is applicable to all establishments, employers and workers in the private sector and will offer employees with a degree of flexibility.
With the new law, individuals will be able to apply for different work categories including temporary, flexible, part-time and full time.
Employees will now receive protection against sexual harassment, bullying, verbal, physical and psychological abuse from their superiors.
Discrimination against race, sex, gender, colour, religion, nationality and disability will be strictly prohibited and men and women will receive equal pay if they are doing the same work or work of equal value.
Limited contracts will not exceed over three years with the contract available to get renewed for a lesser or similar time period, if both parties agree.
All the fees for recruitment must be paid by the employer and not taken from the employee, either directly or indirectly.
All employees are entitled to weekly, paid rest days, paid vacation, mourning leave of three to five days based on the relationship of the deceased as well as paternity leave of five days.
The new law will also prohibit the employer from withholding official documents including passports as well as ensure that the employee obtains their wages on the due date.