Abu Dhabi: The UAE labor market is all set to witness a seismic change in the way it operates as the country prepares to migrate from rules and procedures of Federal Law No. 8 for 1980 to adopt a new set of rules and regulations mandated by the Federal Decree Law No. 33 for 2021 on labor relations from 2nd February 2022.
With the implementation of the new law, the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization will be able to offer new controls and procedures to employers for benefitting from the capacities and productivity of their employees and reduce operational costs, in line with new labor categories.
The new law would enhance the stature of the Emirati labor market as one of the world’s leading labor markets. It is characterized by flexibility, efficiency, ease of conducting business and attracting talents, and available expertise and skills, in light of its protection for both labor relations parties. – Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization remarked about the new law.
The new rule will offer employers and employees numerous options for their contractual relations with conditions and controls for various work models, along with the association’s duties, Dr. Al Awar added.
WORK MODELS
As per the new law, an employee can work;
- Full-time Work for one Employer
- Carry out Part-Time Work for one or more Employers for a specific number of hours daily
- Do a Temporary Work for a particular time period that involves a specific task and ends with its completion and
- Engage in Flexible Work which allows changing working hours or days depending on workload and the operational and business needs of the employer.
NEW WORK PERMITS
From 2nd February, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization will issue 12 types of work permits such as but not limited to Student Training & Employment Permit, Work Permit, Work Permit for Golden Visa Holders and Trainee National Work Permit.
LEAVES
With the new labor law coming into existence employees will be able to take five-day paid bereavement leave on the death of a spouse and a three-day paid leave on the death of a parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent, counted from the date of the death. A five-day parental leave is also offered to both parents for childcare.
Employee who pursue concurrent education can now take a 10-day study leave to pursue their education in accredited educational institutions in the country. UAE Citizen workers are entitled to paid national service leave, in line with enforceable federal laws.