Compiled by Samir Salama

All recruitment fees must be paid by the employer
A Dubai reader asks: I have been working since January 4. I am on my husband's sponsorship and would like to resign because I am dissatisfied with the work. My contract is for three years. It is mentioned in the contract that I am entitled to an annual air ticket home, but when I signed the contract I was asked to forfeit this, which I agreed to orally so that my company would not charge me for my labour card and recruitment costs. I was hired locally. Is it the employer who should pay for recruitment charges?

How much is the cost of a labour card? Is the labour card valid as long as the contract or is it renewable yearly? My labour card is with my company as I have retained my passport. If I receive a ban, can I still stay in the country?

By breaking the contract, what will I have to pay my company besides uniforms and recruitment cost? How much is the recruitment cost? I do not have any benefits no housing allowance, no medical coverage, just a basic salary. I have just come back from vacation. I took 25 days' unpaid leave, which was deducted from my salary for August. I work five days a week.

All recruitment fees must be paid by the employer in accordance with labour laws. The labour card for employees who are not under the employer's sponsorship is renewable yearly as opposed to every three years when the employee is sponsored by the employer.

If you get a ban for early termination of the contract, you will not have to leave the country because you are under your husband's sponsorship and the ban is considered a work ban.

Upon early termination of the contract, you will not have to pay any recruitment costs since, as stated, these are covered by the employer. However, you have to check what the contract says with regard to the uniform.

According to article 116 of the UAE's Labour Law, an employee who terminates the contract before its expiration shall compensate the employer for any loss that the early termination of the contract may have caused. The compensation is not to exceed half a month's salary for a period of three months or for the remainder of the contract period, whichever is shorter.

Investor visa
Mahesh Jain asks: I have a ban on my work visa. I would like to start a company on my own. Can I get an investor's visa during my ban period?

You cannot get an investor visa until the ban period expires.

Late payment
Ivon Fernandes, in Abu Dhabi, asks: A bank offered to increase my credit limit over the phone for which they charged Dh75. Later, there was a charge of Dh95 a month as late payment fee and the card was blocked. For the past three months, the card continues to be blocked. I have faxed a letter to them to discontinue the card. Please let me know what are my rights. Am I compelled to pay it considering that the card is blocked?

You should raise this concern with the bank that issued the credit card to find out their policy. It is possible that when agreeing, you consented to the terms and conditions of the credit card, which may or may not stipulate late payment.

Rent increases
Ravindran S., in Sharjah, asks: The issues of rent increases keep scaring the expat for most of his tenure in this country. Sharjah rent laws stipulate that there is a rent ceiling for three years and rents cannot be increased for that period. But then what is the support the common man has from the government in case the rents are increased? What is the surety that the landlord would not evict the tenant if the rent is not paid?

There are no federal laws for capping rent increases. In practice, however, there was always a 10 per cent cap on lease increase annually. You should look at the lease agreement that governs your relationship with your landlord to figure out whether or not rent increases are permitted.

If the landlord acted within the limits of the lease agreement and the law, he can evict you for non-payment of rent.

Six-month ban
A Dubai reader asks: I am holding a business visa with 25 per cent partnership in a Dubai business and would like to sponsor my husband, who is under six months ban. Can I do so?

In practice you cannot sponsor your husband who is under a six month ban even if you have a business visa with 25 per cent partnership in a business in Dubai. The six month ban must expire before your husband can be sponsored again.

Compassionate leave
Cez Brews, in Dubai, asks: My father passed away recently and I had to take emergency leave to return home. My employer has deducted the full time I was out of the country as leave. Am I entitled to additional compassionate leave other than the annual 30 days?

Article 77 of the Labour law says emergency leave must be deducted from the annual 30 days' vacation. Therefore, you are not entitled to additional compassionate leave other than the annual 30 days.

Visa cancellation
Mohammad Mobin, in Abu Dhabi, asks: My brother's visa was cancelled on February 23 and he left on March 17. How do I calculate the six-month ban? Is it from the date he left the country or from the date the visa was cancelled?

From the date the visa was cancelled.