Does Abu Dhabi firm pay for repatriation flight and annual airfare when worker leaves?

Keren Bobker advises on the Labour laws flights home when employees move to a new company in the UAE or repatriate.

If an employee receives an annual airfare paid by the company every year, is it mandatory for us to book his return ticket on his resignation in addition to his annual flight when he exits the country and returns to his home country? RK, Abu Dhabi

An annual flight, while a fairly common part of a contract of employment, is not required as part of UAE Labour Law, so that is entirely separate to the flight at the end of service, which is payable by the final employer. Article 131 states that “Expenses for repatriation of an employee to his place of origin or any other place agreed upon by both parties shall be borne by the employer. If the employee after the end of his contract takes up employment somewhere else, repatriation expenses upon termination of his service shall be paid by the last employer subject to the provisions in the preceding clauses, and if the employer has failed to repatriate the employee and has not paid the repatriation expenses, the competent authorities shall do this at the employer’s expense by way of attachment. If the cause for termination of contract is attributed to the employee, his repatriation will be arranged at his own expense if he has the mean to pay”. This need only be a one-way ticket and is only payable if someone is not taking up another job in the UAE.

Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with over 20 years’ experience. Contact her at [e-mail]. Follow her on Twitter at @FinancialUAE

The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only