The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE) has laid out steps for employers in the private sector for expat employees who intend to avail of the ‘Early Leave’ initiative of the UAE government, as per decree no. 279 of 2020.
MoHRE spearheads the initiative, in cooperation with related agencies including the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management.
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Here are the steps for employers in case an expat requests for the ‘Early Leave’:
– Specify the leave duration by signing an additional temporary form for them job contract-available on the MOHRE smart app and website, during the implementation of precautionary measures to limit the coronavirus spread.
– Book a round trip ticket for the employee
– The contractual relationship between the employee and the employer must continue. The early leave is considered unpaid leave, provided that all workers’ entitlements are saved, as per the labour law.
– The leave ends, after the employee is back to work, and the precautionary period is over.
– Work residencies for those who went back to their countries will be renewed automatically if they are expired, even if they are not back in the UAE.
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The ‘Early Leave’ initiative is part of the humanitarian support programmes of the UAE government as their response to many expats who are still working but wish to return to their home countries during these difficult times.
Employees who will take part in the initiative and head home to their countries can email the UAE’s national contact centre through: [email protected]
