Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

The UAE is set to implement changes to the Labour and Domestic Workers Laws at the beginning of 2024. Ahead of this, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) organised a seminar focusing on implementation mechanisms to standardise judicial practices and align them with forthcoming legislative changes. Chaired by Judge Abdulla Fares Al Nauaimi, President of the Abu Dhabi Labor Court, the seminar provided a comprehensive overview of the legislative amendments outlined in the Federal Decree Laws concerning the Regulation of Labour Relations and Domestic Workers. The ADJD discussed mechanisms for considering decisions issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) before the court, especially in cases where one party involved in an employment dispute seeks claims not exceeding Dh50,000 or instances where the dispute relates to non-compliance with a prior out-of-court settlement decision, regardless of the claim's value. The judicial authority also studied how it must respond to decisions and settlements issued by MOHRE, the procedures for appealing decisions, and the judicial processes from case preparation to the final judgment. Time limits, statute of limitations, and the calculations of working days were also discussed. The types of claims admissible in court and the extent to which they can be amended, up to the respondent's notification, were also explored. In September, the UAE announced a federal law making the Ministry of Human Resource and Emiratisation responsible for issuing decisions regarding labour disputes in which the value of the contested claim does not exceed Dh50,000. Previously, all labour complaints needed to be filed at MOHRE so that the authority can try to resolve the issue amicably before referring it to the courts. The amended law empowers MOHRE to take decisions on labour disputes with claims of up to Dh50,000. Labour disputes with claims above this threshold will be referred to the judiciary. The UAE Labour Law states that matters referred to the court must be accompanied by a note containing a statement of the disagreement, evidence from both parties, and comments from the relevant labor department. The competent court will schedule a hearing for the claim and notify the two parties within three days of receiving the request. No claim for any rights owed will be heard beyond one year from the date of the breach. The UAE Labour Law also exempts workers or their heirs from paying judicial fees at all stages of litigation and execution for claims less than Dh100,000. ICA/BKM/ Expat Media
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