A school pupil was killed and 11 people were injured when a minivan hit a central barrier and overturned on Dubai's Hatta-Lehbab road on Tuesday morning.
Dubai Police said the accident was caused by speeding and negligent driving and that there were too many people in the Toyota Previa involved. The Previa has seating capacity for seven or eight.
A team from Dubai Police and Dubai Ambulance arrived at the site after being alerted at around 7.00am. The driver and 10 other children suffered injuries and were taken to hospital. Some reports said the injuries were not severe.
“The driver suddenly swerved the vehicle after losing control and crashed into the road divider,” said Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, acting assistant commander-in-chief for operations at Dubai Police.
“The impact of the crash forced the minivan off the road and it flipped over, killing one student.”
It came a day after the start of the new school year for many pupils across the UAE, with more than a million returning to classes on Monday.
The vehicle, the officer added, was rented by a group of families for school pick-ups and drop-offs. Officials said the children belonged to “different age groups”.
Maj Gen Al Mazrouei urged parents to hire drivers with impeccable traffic records and to stick with passenger capacity for each vehicle. “Drivers must follow speed limits and must be alert when they are behind the wheels,” he said, adding that they must never drive if they feel tired as it “reduces one's reaction time”.
He also advised drivers to carry out regular maintenance checks of their cars before getting on the road, especially during peak summer months. These are crucial to “protect people's lives”, said Maj Gen Al Mazrouei.
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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.
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KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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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.
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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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