Have a proper written agreement before accepting any UAE job

I work in a shop owned by my sponsor and I am the only employee. My basic salary is Dh800 per month, but he had said he would give me a salary of Dh1,500, accommodation costs of Dh500 and a Dh300 food allowance. For two months he has not given me my correct salary and when I ask for my full salary he says "your basic salary is only Dh800". I am in a very difficult position so I asked him to cancel my visa and was told he would impose either a lifetime or a one-year ban as I haven't completed two years of service. I am not getting the correct salary, and he won't cancel my visa. What can I do to make this better or leave? SP, Sharjah

Unless you have it in writing that you have agreed a different salary to the amount which you are being paid – such as your contract of employment or the contract that has been lodged with the Ministry of Labour – then there is little that can be done. Everyone should receive a proper written agreement before accepting any job as a verbal agreement cannot be proven. An employer has no option but to accept the resignation of an employee, but a six-month employment ban can be imposed if someone has not worked for a company for a full two years. In some cases, the ban applies only if leaving service in the first year, but only if the individual has at least a high school diploma and a salary in excess of Dh5,000 per month. In this case, SP can resign if he provides 30 days’ written notice, which would be valid from the date given. But this would mean he would have to leave the UAE and would receive a six-month employment ban. He should be able to return to the UAE after that time if he secures a new job offer.

Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with more than 20 years’ experience. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com. Follow her on Twitter at @FinancialUAE

The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek appropriate independent legal advice

Have a proper written agreement before accepting any UAE job

Unless you have it in writing that you have agreed a different salary to the amount which you are being paid, then there is little that can be done.