I have been off work for two weeks already this year as I hurt my back and then had flu. I was genuinely ill and got certificates from my doctor, which I sent to my employer. I only took a few days off sick last year. My manager has now told me that they will not pay me for any more days I take off due to illness during this calendar year, which seems unfair as I can't help being ill. She also hinted that if I take much more time off work, I will be terminated. Are companies allowed to terminate people if they are ill, or not pay them? AS, Dubai
AS works for a mainland company that comes under the rules of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and so UAE Labour Law applies. This sets out the minimum obligation regarding the payment of employees if they are off work due to ill health.
Article 183 of the law states: “Should the worker spend more than three months after the end of the probation period in the continuous service of the employer and contracted an illness, he shall be entitled to a sick leave not exceeding 90 consecutive or non-consecutive days for every year of service, calculated as follows: a. The first 15 days with full pay; b. The following 30 days with half pay; c. The following periods without pay."
I understand that AS has been with the employer for a year, so is entitled for full pay for the 10 working days taken off so far, as well as for another five days if needed. However, any days of sick leave after this, up to a maximum of 30 additional days, can be paid at 50 per cent of the standard daily rate.
The employer must follow the law in this regard and can pay the lower amount for any more days of sick leave that AS takes in 2021. After this, any additional days would be without pay.
It is important to note, however, that the employer does have the right to terminate an employee if they are off work for a long period of time.
Article 85 of the UAE Labour Law says: “The employer may terminate the service of the worker subsequent to the exhaustion thereby of the sick leaves set forth in Articles 82, 83 and 84 hereof, should he not be able to report back to his work. In such case, the worker shall be entitled to the end-of-service gratuity in accordance with the provisions hereof.”
This applies only if someone has been off work due to health issues for more than 90 days.
I work for an education company and was put on gardening leave from October 1, 2020, until January 2021. My issue is that my company terminated me due to low class numbers but one month prior to my termination, they employed four staff and they were still on probation at the time I was let go. These new employees all kept their jobs. I had a two-year contract that started in August 2019.
I feel this was an injustice. I should have kept my position and someone else who was on probation should have been let go. Can I make a complaint or take any action so I get to keep my job? SB, Ras al Khaimah
As SB was working for a private company, the UAE Labour Law and Ministerial Decrees and Resolutions from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation will apply in this case.
I understand that AS has been with the employer for a year, so is entitled for full pay for the 10 working days taken off so far and for another five days
When SB says gardening leave, she means that she was not working in line with the options under Ministerial Decree No. 279 of 2020, which was introduced during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. This permitted employers to put staff on reduced salaries or unpaid leave for a specified period of time provided it was fully documented and agreed.
If an employee is terminated, an employer needs to provide a specific reason for the action and this must be valid. It may be that the newer employees had a different skillset or role and that is why they were retained rather than SB.
She would need to demonstrate that the termination was unrelated to her work in order to lodge a case against the company for arbitrary dismissal. There is nothing in the law that states any employer has to have a "first in, last out" termination policy.
As SB was on a fixed-term contract, she is entitled to payment from the employer for breaking the terms of the agreement, in line with Article 115 of the UAE Labour Law.
This states: “Should the employment contract be of a determined term and the employer rescind same … he shall be bound to compensate the worker for the damage incurred thereto, provided that the compensation amount does not exceed in any case the total wage due for the period of three months or for the remaining period of the contract, whichever is shorter, unless otherwise stipulated in the contract.”
Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser and senior partner with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with more than 25 years’ experience. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com. Follow her on Twitter at @FinancialUAE
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only
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Power: Combined output 920hp
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Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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The specs
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
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15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Specs
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