Dubai: A group of Emiratis made redundant last week by "global economic downturn" is considering the filing of a lawsuit against their former employer for "arbitrary termination" if the Ministry of Labour fails to resolve their issue.
Last week, about 20 Emiratis filed a complaint with the Ministry against the Al Futtaim Group for "arbitrary termination" and demanded reinstatement.
Ahmad Al Naqbi, one of the Emiratis, who lost his job, told Gulf News, that they are in talks with a law firm to prepare a lawsuit against the Group.
"We will file a case to demand compensation for the arbitrary termination in addition to compensation for moral and psychological damages, but we will wait until the Ministry gives us a formal response to our case before we go ahead with the case," said Al Naqbi.
No official of the ministry was available for comments.
The Ministry is now studying a proposal submitted by the National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) to regulate the termination of Emiratis working in the private sector which bans the sacking of Emiratis who have not violated the labour law.
The proposal was moved after some Emiratis working for the Al Futtaim Group were made redundant in view of the ongoing economic slump.
The Group claimed that the termination was due "to the restructuring of the company in the light of the current global financial crisis".
However, the former employees considered the termination as arbitrary.
