President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a new law aimed at regulating labour relations in the private sector across the emirates.
Dubbed as the most sweeping labour reforms in the country to date, Federal Decree – Law No. 33 of 2021 will come into force on February 2, 2022.
This includes numerous provisions intended to create a flexible and competitive labour market, attract top talents, empower the female workforce, and guarantee the rights of both the employer and the employee in a balanced manner.
One of the key provisions of the new law prohibits employers or companies from confiscating employees’ official documents.
They cannot also force employees to leave the country after the end of the work term.
The law also stipulates that the employer shall bear the fees and expenses of recruitment and employment.
They shall not recover them directly or indirectly from the employee.
A provision in the new law also introduces new flexible work models, which give a person the choice to work on a temporary basis, freelance jobs, condensed work timings, as well as shared jobs.
The rules do not apply to employees in the public sector and domestic workers.
Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, said: “In the condensed working week, employees can choose to finish their 40 hours in three days instead of one week as per the contract signed by both parties.”
