A reader from Dubai asks: Please let me know in one year's service how many days can an employee go on for emergency leave (with or without pay?) As per the law an employee is entitled to 30 days annual leave after completing one year of service but for example if in between one year of service an employee goes on emergency leave for seven days but he returns after 27 days instead of seven days what will be the action taken against him as per the law?

Suppose after completing his one year of service the same employee again demands 30 days actual annual leave because he gives reference as per the UAE Labour Law, that an employee after completing one year's service is entitled to 30 days' leave.

My last question is that what about 27 emergencies leave which he already availed of in the same year and then 30 days actual annual leave. He availed a total of 58 days leave in one year. What action can be taken against him, because in one year's time he availed 58 days leave instead of 30 days leave, which caused disturbance to the company's work?

I would like to clarify to the questioner that as per UAE Labour Law, there is no emergency leave and therefore this matter shall be made in accordance with the system followed in each company as the labour law does not oblige companies to give workers emergency leave whether paid or unpaid. As for the question regarding the calculation of the period outside of the annual leave, such an emergency period mentioned by the questioner is an absence from work and the employer may file a complaint before the ministry against the worker in this regard.

Questions answered by Advocate Mohammad Ebrahim Al Shaiba of Al Bahar Advocates and Legal Consultants.