Question: I was ill recently and had to take two days off work. I managed to get a doctor’s certificate as there is a clinic by my building but my boss is telling me that I have to work extra days to make up for the sick leave.
I am supposed to work on my off days or he says he will not pay me. This is my only time being sick this year. Is this right? CB, Dubai
Answer: Once the probation period has passed, all employees are permitted a certain number of days off work due to illness each year, for which they must be paid.
This is set out in Article 31 of the UAE labour law, which confirms the payment for “the first (15) fifteen days with full pay”.
This shows that CB is entitled to his usual pay for those two days and does not have to work any additional days.
If his employer persists, even after the law has been explained, he can register a case with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
Q: I have been in the UAE for a few years and have been offered a job in Kuwait. It looks quite good but I need to know about the laws there.
Is the labour law similar to that of the UAE? Do I have the same level of employment protection as I do now?
I have been offered a contract that is for three years but it has a penalty if I want to leave early. I know that cannot happen in the Emirates now, so is it the same in Kuwait? AH, Abu Dhabi
A: While Kuwait is part of the GCC, it has its own laws and labour regulations. Most of this is as set out in the Labour Law for the Private Sector (Law No 6 of 2010).
There are some similarities and the law states that salaries must be paid within seven days of the due date. It also sets out a maximum working week of 48 hours, mandated rest days, sick leave, termination compensation and annual and public holidays, among other conditions.
Note that the Arabic version of any contract of employment prevails in case of dispute and a copy should be provided to the Public Authority for Manpower, under the control of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour.
Contracts can be on a fixed term, known as a definite term, or on a permanent basis. Definite term contracts have a minimum term of a year and a maximum of five years. By mutual consent, the contract can be extended for a maximum period of five years.
Should AH decide to end the contract early, he is liable to compensate the employer.
Article 47 of the relevant labour law states, in relation to either an employee or employer terminating a contract, “he shall then be obliged to compensate the other party for the damage incurred by him, provided that the compensation amount shall not exceed what is equal to the labourer's wage for the remaining period of the contract”.
For a longer-term definite contract, that could be a substantial amount.
The law states that employees who are paid monthly must provide at least three months’ notice.
For both parties, there are provisions to cancel a contract sooner, without penalty, if the law has been broken.
Q: I will be moving back home to the UK at the end of September. I know I have to submit a form to send my possessions to the UK but have a question. Do I need to include my pets on the form?
I have a rescue Saluki-cross and a former street cat that I am taking back with me. Neither has any monetary value, so do I need to include them? NG, Ras Al Khaimah
A: The form that is being referred to is the Transfer of Residence form, known as Tor. This is required if anyone is moving to the UK from anywhere outside of the EU and is shipping personal items. That includes furniture, personal effects, cars and, yes, animals including rescued pets.
This document was introduced in April 2017 and must be completed to ensure people are not charged VAT on their possessions.
Details of any pets must be declared on the form as they are considered personal belongings. The form does not ask for a monetary value for pets.
All pet cats and dogs in the UAE should be microchipped and the microchip number must be included on the form.
There are a number of good pet relocation companies that assist with not only the physical transport of pets but also the paperwork and legal requirements. The animals must meet the requirements of the UK’s Pet Passport Scheme in respect of vaccinations and health.
Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser and senior partner with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with more than 30 years’ experience. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.comor at www.financialuae.com
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ads on social media can 'normalise' drugs
A UK report on youth social media habits commissioned by advocacy group Volteface found a quarter of young people were exposed to illegal drug dealers on social media.
The poll of 2,006 people aged 16-24 assessed their exposure to drug dealers online in a nationally representative survey.
Of those admitting to seeing drugs for sale online, 56 per cent saw them advertised on Snapchat, 55 per cent on Instagram and 47 per cent on Facebook.
Cannabis was the drug most pushed by online dealers, with 63 per cent of survey respondents claiming to have seen adverts on social media for the drug, followed by cocaine (26 per cent) and MDMA/ecstasy, with 24 per cent of people.
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
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LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)
Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)
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Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
The years Ramadan fell in May
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The details
Colette
Director: Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Keira Knightley, Dominic West
Our take: 3/5
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score)
Porto (0) v Liverpool (2), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
THREE
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Playing records of the top 10 in 2017
How many games the top 10 have undertaken in the 2017 ATP season
1. Rafael Nadal 58 (49-9)
2. Andy Murray 35 (25-10)
3. Roger Federer 38 (35-3)
4. Stan Wawrinka 37 (26-11)
5. Novak Djokovic 40 (32-8)
6. Alexander Zverev 60 (46-14)
7. Marin Cilic 43 (29-14)
8. Dominic Thiem 60 (41-19)
9. Grigor Dimitrov 48 (34-14)
10. Kei Nishikori 43 (30-13)
Results
2pm Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,800m
Winner AF Al Baher, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner Davy Lamp, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner Ode To Autumn, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner Arch Gold, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
4.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,800m
Winner Meqdam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
5pm Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner Native Appeal, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Amani Pico, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Naga
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
