My sister is working for a company and is about to come to the end of her first two-year visa. Her manager has now told her that once she has her second visa she will have to work for two more years in full otherwise she will have to repay all expenses and can be banned from returning to the UAE. Is this true? And how she can change her job? RR Ajman
There are different rules that relate to leaving a job depending on whether someone is on a fixed/limited contract or an unlimited one that is open-ended. Someone who leaves employment part-way through a fixed contract will be liable to pay a penalty to the employer of an amount equivalent to no more than 45 days’ pay but this is a standard rule in UAE Labour Law, per Article 116. In no circumstances are employers permitted to ask employees to repay the expenses incurred in employing them. Once someone has completed two years of service they cannot be given a ban on leaving employment and are free to take up a new role in the UAE without issue.
Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with more than 20 years of 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.
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