Khalifa orders law to reduce court fees

Labourers and domestic workers will no longer have to pay fees to seek justice in court, under a law ordered by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE. Fees for other court cases were sharply reduced, but the new law formalises the requirement that those fees be paid upfront.
The law, which was presented last year, was approved by the courts and the Executive Council. Sheikh Khalifa issued the decree yesterday in his capacity as the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Fees are waived for "all lawsuits filed by labourers and house servants claiming their due", according to a translation of the law. While those groups previously could challenge their employers under labour law without paying, they had to pay fees upfront and seek reimbursement later.
That requirement proved to be too great a burden for many workers, some of whom would borrow money to pay the fees. Under the old system, a person suing for any amount of money would be required to pay four per cent of the first Dh100,000 (US$27,250) sought and five per cent of the remaining amount, to a maximum fee of Dh30,000. The new law sets a flat four per cent on any amount, to a maximum fee of Dh20,000.
In cases where a defendant is found liable, the presiding judge can order the defendant to pay the court fees. The practice of upfront payment was affirmed: "No request, legislation or appeal will be processed without the prior payment in full, unless an official exemption is made in part or full with the approval of the court's president." Ministries and other government offices are exempt from fees under the new law.
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