What is the UAE ministry of labor's policy when it comes to the issue of employment ban?

Question

What is the UAE ministry of labor's policy when it comes to the issue of employment ban?

Answer 1

Outside the freezones (JAFZA, Media City, Studio City, Internet City, DIFC and 10+ others), an employer can still impose employment bans (Not entry ban) for a period of six months to an year, on employees who leave their jobs before finishing one year. Or if they have disputes with an employee regarding end of service benefits etc.

The UAE federal labor law applies to areas if freezone laws don't have any provisioning in those areas. Only good point to working in freezones is labor bans aren't imposed after one year, which could still happen outside freezones. Apart from that, its all same.

But labor rights enforcement is very lax and mostly a lip service media excercise by the UAE government as its in their best interest to restrict labor movement

Answer 2

The Ministry of Labor (MoL) will impose a 6 months ban automatically when your visa gets cancelled and you can not provide a NoC of your employer.

With this 6 months ban you still can obtain a visit visa and also take employment at the Free Zone.

You also receive a work ban in case you did not fulfill at least one year of service with your employer while being on an unlimited work contract. This ban can be waived against paying fees. These fees are called "ban lifting fees".

The one year and other bans are imposed by the Immigration Department and you are not allowed to enter the UAE (for one year or period).

My personal opinion is, that right laws and regulation regarding bans, NoCs, visas etc exist, but the typing centers and the employees at Immigration and Labor are not all on the same sheet of music.

To be on the safe site: do not breach any Labor Law (like not fulfilling your contract), do not abscond and if you want to change your job go by your contract, resign properly by giving a 4 weeks notice and obtain a NoC.

Take care and all the best.