Q: I have some questions on UAE employment laws for a person working as a caregiver in a private residence in Dubai. The copy of the UAE labour law I saw online says under article 3, part 4, that it does not cover “domestic servants”, which prompts me to ask the following questions: what laws are there to protect a person brought in as a registered, trained and certified “caregiver” whose visa says “housemaid” and whose working hours are mandated by the sponsor as 18 hours every day, seven days a week with no day of rest allowed? This was not made clear when being recruited and no copy of the contract of employment has been provided. The sponsor says it is not a legal requirement for a caregiver to be given a copy. Is that right? Also, the salary paid is very basic, with no provision made for overtime or for working seven days a week. Is this legal?
Q: My tenant is harassing me to change light bulbs or repair taps and I keep telling him that these repairs are to be made by him as he is using the leased premises. Although he is always on my back, I cannot evict him without a one-year notice. Can I file a complaint with the Rental Disputes Settlement Centre?
Q: A Filipino resident had to leave Dubai in an emergency and did not settle his credit card debts and a personal loan taken from a bank. He has contacted the bank from the Philippines and started taking steps to settle his debts in monthly payments but the collection employee at the bank’s branch in the Philippines keeps harassing him to pay the debt in full. What are his legal options?
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