US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visit a Covid-19 vaccination facility at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. AFP
US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visit a Covid-19 vaccination facility at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. AFP
A police officer holds up a stop sign as a car approaches in an almost-deserted street in Jordan's capital Amman, during a coronavirus lockdown. AFP
A police officer holds up a stop sign as a car approaches in an almost-deserted street in Jordan's capital Amman, during a coronavirus lockdown. AFP
A girl who is infected with Covid-19 receives oxygen in a quarantine ward at a hospital in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq. Reuters
A girl who is infected with Covid-19 receives oxygen in a quarantine ward at a hospital in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq. Reuters
A medical worker measures the temperature of travellers, using a thermal camera, at the arrival hall of Tindouf Airport, in south-west Algeria. AFP
A medical worker measures the temperature of travellers, using a thermal camera, at the arrival hall of Tindouf Airport, in south-west Algeria. AFP
A municipal worker disinfects a classroom before pupils return to school, in Cankaya district, in Turkey's capital Ankara. AFP
A municipal worker disinfects a classroom before pupils return to school, in Cankaya district, in Turkey's capital Ankara. AFP
An airport worker puts Covax labels on Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines being unloaded at Felix Houphouet Boigny Airport, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The country has received 504,000 doses from Covax, which provides inoculations for poorer countries. AFP
An airport worker puts Covax labels on Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines being unloaded at Felix Houphouet Boigny Airport, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The country has received 504,000 doses from Covax, which provides inoculations for poorer countries. AFP
Women wearing flamenco dresses protest in Seville, Spain, to highlight the difficulties the flamenco fashion sector is facing over coronavirus restrictions. AFP
Women wearing flamenco dresses protest in Seville, Spain, to highlight the difficulties the flamenco fashion sector is facing over coronavirus restrictions. AFP
A health worker administers a Covid-19 vaccine to a resident at Solar das Acacias nursing home, in Guarulhos, near Sao Paulo, Brazil. Reuters
A health worker administers a Covid-19 vaccine to a resident at Solar das Acacias nursing home, in Guarulhos, near Sao Paulo, Brazil. Reuters
Buddhists pray as screens show devotees gathering via Zoom for a ceremony to commemorate Makha Bucha Day at the Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple, following the spread of Covid-19, in Pathum Thani province, Thailand. Reuters
Buddhists pray as screens show devotees gathering via Zoom for a ceremony to commemorate Makha Bucha Day at the Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple, following the spread of Covid-19, in Pathum Thani province, Thailand. Reuters
Steam rises from a vent outside the US Capitol on the day the House of Representatives is expected to vote on legislation to provide $1.9 trillion in new coronavirus relief in Washington, US. Reuters
Steam rises from a vent outside the US Capitol on the day the House of Representatives is expected to vote on legislation to provide $1.9 trillion in new coronavirus relief in Washington, US. Reuters

World

Coronavirus latest: Abu Dhabi to introduce saliva tests for children aged between 4 and 12

Testing will help schools return to normal, says a top UAE official

The National

March 01, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Top stories 

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

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Company%20Profile
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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.

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
 
  • Grade 9 = above an A*
  • Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
  • Grade 7 = grade A
  • Grade 6 = just above a grade B
  • Grade 5 = between grades B and C
  • Grade 4 = grade C
  • Grade 3 = between grades D and E
  • Grade 2 = between grades E and F
  • Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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Coronavirus