New UAE Labour Law: 7 points your employment contract must include

Since January 1, 2016, the UAE has implemented sweeping reforms to the old Labour Law, plugging loopholes that now make employees even more content and secure in their workplace. Primary changes in the new regulations pertain to employment contracts for workers hired from abroad, termination of job contracts, and issuance of new labour permits to resident workers. According to new regulations, any offer letter made to a foreign worker is legally binding once accepted and signed by both parties. This means that the employment contract should be based on the offer letter signed by both parties. The contract, however, must include a set of information. The resolution issued by the Minister of Labour mandates that employers will be required to disclose to the Ministry the terms of the offer made to a foreign worker. As per law, the following seven points need to be specified in all employment contracts. These include: 1) Wages/remuneration payable. 2) Date of the employment contract. 3) Date of commencement of the employment contract. 4) Nature of the contract (limited or unlimited). 5) Nature of the work. 6) Duration of the contract (for fixed term contracts). 7) The location of employment. According to the ministry, it has begun implementing new procedures for issuance of work permits where employers are obliged to provide the job offer and annexes containing a comprehensive description of rights and duties between both parties.   Emirates 247