Top workplace issues
UAE employment and immigration legal landscape - key takeaways from 2022
06 January 2023
New Federal Labour Law issued in the UAE
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Legal Development 30 November 2021 30 November 2021
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Middle East
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Top workplace issues
On the 15 November 2021, the UAE Cabinet approved a new Labour Law, Federal Law Number 33 of 2021 (the New Labour Law) which will come into force on 2 February 2022 and repeals Law Number 8 of 1980 (the Old Law); replacing it entirely.
The New Labour Law consolidates many of the changes which have been introduced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MHRE) through various regulations over the past five years and also introduces significant new changes, thus amounting to a radical overhaul of labour relations in the UAE. It will apply across the UAE, in each of the seven emirates and its free zones (with the exception of the DIFC and ADGM).
In this article, we summarise the key changes that will affect companies and what they need to consider ahead of 2 February 2022. The article covers changes made to gratuity, employment contracts, employer policies and flexible work patterns.
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