Boy scouts carry a float with a girl dressed as Disney character Snow White during a procession for Palm Sunday at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross in the Qasaa district of the Syrian capital Damascus. AFP
Boy scouts carry a float with a girl dressed as Disney character Snow White during a procession for Palm Sunday at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross in the Qasaa district of the Syrian capital Damascus. AFP
Boy scouts beat drums as they participate in a Palm Sunday procession in the Dwelaa area of Damascus. AFP
Boy scouts beat drums as they participate in a Palm Sunday procession in the Dwelaa area of Damascus. AFP
Boy and girl scouts march with palm fronds during the procession in Dwelaa. AFP
Boy and girl scouts march with palm fronds during the procession in Dwelaa. AFP
Worshippers attend a Palm Sunday service at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Umm Al Noor in Erbil in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq. AFP
Worshippers attend a Palm Sunday service at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Umm Al Noor in Erbil in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq. AFP
A choir sings during the church service in Erbil. AFP
A choir sings during the church service in Erbil. AFP
A child watches as people attend a Palm Sunday mass in Cairo, Egypt. The number of worshippers was limited because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Reuters
A child watches as people attend a Palm Sunday mass in Cairo, Egypt. The number of worshippers was limited because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Reuters
A young Coptic Orthodox Christian wears a hat made of knitted palm fronds as worshippers circle the Edicule at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the place where it is believed Jesus Christ was buried. AFP
A young Coptic Orthodox Christian wears a hat made of knitted palm fronds as worshippers circle the Edicule at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the place where it is believed Jesus Christ was buried. AFP
An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian uses her phone, which bears the image of the Virgin Mary with Jesus, to film proceedings during Palm Sunday celebrations outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. AFP
An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian uses her phone, which bears the image of the Virgin Mary with Jesus, to film proceedings during Palm Sunday celebrations outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. AFP
An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian wears a palm frond knitted into the shape of a cross outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. AFP
An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian wears a palm frond knitted into the shape of a cross outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. AFP
Christian pilgrims touch the Stone of Anointing and pray during the Palm Sunday procession at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. About 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world observe Holy Week. EPA
Christian pilgrims touch the Stone of Anointing and pray during the Palm Sunday procession at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. About 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world observe Holy Week. EPA
Greek Orthodox clergymen attend the procession in Jerusalem. Palm Sunday in when many churches symbolically mark the biblical account of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. EPA
Greek Orthodox clergymen attend the procession in Jerusalem. Palm Sunday in when many churches symbolically mark the biblical account of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. EPA
Worshippers sit apart during a Palm Sunday mass in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters
Worshippers sit apart during a Palm Sunday mass in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters
A worshipper attends Palm Sunday celebrations at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. AFP
A worshipper attends Palm Sunday celebrations at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. AFP
Christians gather to mark Palm Sunday at the Church of the Nativity in the occupied West Bank. AFP
Christians gather to mark Palm Sunday at the Church of the Nativity in the occupied West Bank. AFP

MENA

Orthodox Christians mark Palm Sunday in the Middle East - in pictures

Worshippers took part in events to celebrate the start of Orthodox Easter

The National

April 26, 2021

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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.

Kareem Shaheen on Canada
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
On Women's Day
ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
 

The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
On Women's Day
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