I have been offered a job by an LLC in Dubai and would like to know my legal rights before making any decision. I have some questions: 1. The offer letter mentions the job profile and refers to the copy of the terms and conditions, but these documents were not sent to me. Am I entitled to receive a copy of these from the employer before signing the contract? 2. The job offer states: “Your salary will be reviewed after the probation period”. Am I entitled to ask the employer to list a date for salary review with reference to this clause before signing the job offer? 3. In one clause relating to the salary package, the job offer states: “Salaries are reviewed annually, based on performance and changes in conditions”. Am I entitled to demand a date from the employer for the next salary review and to ask him to include it in the job offer? ML, Abu Dhabi
If an employer is offering someone a job that is subject to specific terms of employment, I would expect the company to forward any terms and conditions together with the offer of employment. ML should certainly request sight of all details before accepting any position with this company. Any employer who does not want to disclose the full terms of employment is probably one to be avoid, as it appears they are being less than honest with their employees. If a job offer states that there will be a salary review, I see no harm in asking the employer to include a specific deadline for this review, but it must be borne in mind that a review is not the same as an increase in salary and an increase is not guaranteed unless it is stated in writing. The same applies in respect of annual reviews. Again it seems entirely reasonable to have dates specified for annual performance and salary reviews and for these to be included in the contract of employment.
Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with over 20 years’ experience. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com. Follow her on Twitter at @FinancialUAE
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