Gaia is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram featured at Quoz Arts Fest 2022 at Alserkal Avenue, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Gaia is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram featured at Quoz Arts Fest 2022 at Alserkal Avenue, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A house in Gateshead, north east England which lost its roof after strong winds from Storm Malik battered northern parts of the UK PA Photo. The Met Office have said that another blast of severe strong winds is set to hit parts of the UK. PA
A house in Gateshead, north east England which lost its roof after strong winds from Storm Malik battered northern parts of the UK PA Photo. The Met Office have said that another blast of severe strong winds is set to hit parts of the UK. PA
Palestinians fishermen sort their haul of fish caught in their nets along a beach in Gaza City. AFP
Palestinians fishermen sort their haul of fish caught in their nets along a beach in Gaza City. AFP
Mohammed Ameen, center, the chief conductor and director of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra acknowledges applause from the audience at the end of a performance at the Iraqi National Theatre in Baghdad, Iraq. AP Photo
Mohammed Ameen, center, the chief conductor and director of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra acknowledges applause from the audience at the end of a performance at the Iraqi National Theatre in Baghdad, Iraq. AP Photo
A Syrian displaced man due to the security operations against the Islamic State (IS) group carries his child as he waits for the approval from Kurdish security forces to return to his house at a district in Hasaka, northeastern of Syria. The US-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) announced that they had retaken full control of Ghwayran prison in the city of Hasaka and re-arrested dozens of jihadists holed up in the prison and in nearby houses, after a major jailbreak attempt from the so-called Islamic State group (IS or ISIS) militants. EPA
A Syrian displaced man due to the security operations against the Islamic State (IS) group carries his child as he waits for the approval from Kurdish security forces to return to his house at a district in Hasaka, northeastern of Syria. The US-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) announced that they had retaken full control of Ghwayran prison in the city of Hasaka and re-arrested dozens of jihadists holed up in the prison and in nearby houses, after a major jailbreak attempt from the so-called Islamic State group (IS or ISIS) militants. EPA
A worker inspects a tyre at a shop in Kabul. AFP
A worker inspects a tyre at a shop in Kabul. AFP
Women wait in line to collect their pay at Pissy Granite Mine in the centre of Ouagadougou. Surrounded by roads, houses and administrative building in Ouagadougou lies the massive, forty year old Pissy Granite Mine. Hundreds of artisanal miners work cracking the granite slabs and carry out small and large chunks up the steep walls of the crater for a few euros a day. AFP
Women wait in line to collect their pay at Pissy Granite Mine in the centre of Ouagadougou. Surrounded by roads, houses and administrative building in Ouagadougou lies the massive, forty year old Pissy Granite Mine. Hundreds of artisanal miners work cracking the granite slabs and carry out small and large chunks up the steep walls of the crater for a few euros a day. AFP
A proster holding a placard reading “Don't play with people and electricity, you can get burnt” scuffles with Kosovo police officers during a protest in Pristina against the increase of electricity prices in Kosovo. AFP
A proster holding a placard reading “Don't play with people and electricity, you can get burnt” scuffles with Kosovo police officers during a protest in Pristina against the increase of electricity prices in Kosovo. AFP
Ukrainian reservists attend a military exercise at a training ground near Kiev, Ukraine. According to a survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in December 2021 and published on 17 December 2021, the 50,2 percent of Ukrainians said they would resist in case of a Russian military intervention into their city, town or village. Every third respondent to the poll, the 33,3 percent, said they were ready to engage in armed resistance while the 21. 7 percent said they were ready to participate in civil resistance actions. Tensions with Russia have pushed many Ukrainians to sign up to territorial defense units. EPA
Ukrainian reservists attend a military exercise at a training ground near Kiev, Ukraine. According to a survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in December 2021 and published on 17 December 2021, the 50,2 percent of Ukrainians said they would resist in case of a Russian military intervention into their city, town or village. Every third respondent to the poll, the 33,3 percent, said they were ready to engage in armed resistance while the 21. 7 percent said they were ready to participate in civil resistance actions. Tensions with Russia have pushed many Ukrainians to sign up to territorial defense units. EPA
TOPSHOT - Mariana Jaglo, mother-of-three, holds her Ukrainian Z-15 - Zbroyar long rifle during an interview in the kitchen of her flat in Kiev. - As fears grow of a potential invasion by Russian troops massed on Ukraine's border, this 52-year-old army reservist, insists in her willing to fight to defend her country. AFP
TOPSHOT - Mariana Jaglo, mother-of-three, holds her Ukrainian Z-15 - Zbroyar long rifle during an interview in the kitchen of her flat in Kiev. - As fears grow of a potential invasion by Russian troops massed on Ukraine's border, this 52-year-old army reservist, insists in her willing to fight to defend her country. AFP
A man tending a camel watches as Qatar's Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah and co-driver Alba Sanchez Gonzalez compete during the Oman Rally Sohar International 2022 in Muscat on. AFP
A man tending a camel watches as Qatar's Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah and co-driver Alba Sanchez Gonzalez compete during the Oman Rally Sohar International 2022 in Muscat on. AFP

World

Today's best photos: from Quoz Arts Fest to Oman Rally

‘The National’ selects the most striking pictures from around the world

The National

January 30, 2022

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More from The National:

Saturday's best photos: from Lunar New Year costumes to a robot barista in China

Friday's best photos: from an Indian circus to Nadal at the Australian Open

Thursday's best photos: from a snowstorm in Jerusalem to a wet court at the Australian Open

Wednesday's best photos: from India's Republic Day to Australia Day

Tuesday's best photos: from the world’s coldest marathon to snow on the Parthenon

Monday's best photos: from police selfies in India to a fiery festival in Spain

Zidane's managerial achievements

La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017

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What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Updated: January 31, 2022, 12:27 PM
Photography