You might have to pay if you quit during probation

Legal

You might have to pay if you quit during probation

"Article 2: Non-national labourers may be allowed to transfer one job to another and hence the transfer of their sponsorship if they fall under the following categories:

a) Engineers

b) Doctors, pharmacists and male and female nurses

c) Agricultural guides

d) Qualified accountants and account auditors

e) Administrative officials

f) Technicians operating on electronic equipment and laboratories

g) Drivers who are licensed to drive heavy vehicles and buses,"

(in case of transfer of sponsorship from a private firm to another or from a private firm to another or to a government department)."

In view of the foregoing, an employment ban may not be imposed on you since you are working as an engineer in the UAE.

Notwithstanding the above provision, even if an employment ban does get imposed, you may still have the same lifted if you are offered a monthly salary of Dh12,000 in your subsequent employment. This is in pursuance of Article 4 of the Ministerial Order No. 1186 of 2010 on "Rules and Conditions of Granting a New Work Permit to an Employee after Termination of the Work Relationship in Order to Move from One Establishment to Another", which states:

"As an exception to the provision of the Item No (2) of Article 2 of this Resolution, the Ministry may issue a work permit to an employee without requiring the two-year period in the following cases:

a) In the event that the employee is starting his new position at the first, second or third professional levels after fulfilling the conditions for joining any of these levels according to the rules in force at the Ministry, and provided that his new wage is not less than Dh12,000 at the first professional level; Dh7,000 at the second professional level; and Dh5,000 at the third professional level ..."

You may contact the Ministry of Labour for any further clarification with respect to your queries or a qualified legal counsel in the event of any dispute with your employer.

The employer is liable to bear the sponsorship expenses for recruitment of its employees