An employer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may file an absconding complaint if an employee is found to be absent from duty for seven consecutive days without information. However, there are also cases where companies terminate employees wrongly or unfairly labelling them as absconders. These employers also try to get the visas of these employees cancelled even after the employees return all the company-owned items in their possession. They refuse to clear the dues of the employees even after persistent follow-ups.
In such situations, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs—Dubai (GDRFAD) says that companies that wrongly label employees as absconders can face a fine of about Dh 5,000 if they do not fulfil the rights of their employees to end-of-service benefits.
These cases need to be handled carefully as unwarranted complications may lead to the employee being detained or even deported in addition to being deprived of all the benefits.
Therefore, it is advisable for the employee to seek legal assistance from a qualified lawyer. A lawyer can ensure proper representation before the relevant authorities and courts. Additionally, the lawyer should consider key factors such as the employer’s legal status, the nature of the employment contract, the grounds for termination, any allegations against the employee, the notice period, and other pertinent details.
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