• Menu
  • Menu
  • Ask Us
  • Subscribe now
    Digital subscription Print+Digital (Bundle) ePaper subscription
  • Logout
Digital subscription
Print+Digital (Bundle)
ePaper subscription
Trending
UAE holidays 2023 Golf in UAE
  • Latest News
  • UAE Success Stories
  • UAE
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Health
      • Why Worry
    • Transport
    • Science
    • Weather
    • Ask the Law
    • Reader Complaint
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety+Security
  • Business
    • Banking
    • Aviation
    • Property
    • Energy
    • Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Corporate News
  • Best Buys
    • Electronics
    • Home and Kitchen
    • Offers
    • Consumables
    • Lifestyle
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
    • Cryptocurrency
  • Food
    • Cooking and Cuisines
    • Guide to Cooking
    • Videos
  • Friday
    • Beauty
    • Wellbeing
    • Art & People
    • Home
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Sudoku
    • Word Search
    • Spell It
    • Play
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
    • Games
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
      • Games
    • Mena
    • Europe
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
    • Offbeat
    • Coronavirus
    • Special Reports
    • Corrections
    • 2022 in review
  • Opinion
    • Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • From the Editors
  • Play Games
  • Qatar World Cup 2022
    • News & Views
    • Travel
    • Teams
    • Players to Watch
    • Match Centre
  • Magical Dubai
    • Dubai Life
    • Live the Luxury
    • Culture and History
    • Adventure
    • Staying Connected
  • Special Reports
  • Photos
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
  • Sport
    • UAE Sport
    • Horse Racing
      • Dubai World Cup
    • Cricket
      • IPL
        • Chennai
        • Delhi
        • Punjab
        • Kolkata
        • Mumbai
        • Rajasthan
        • Bangalore
        • Hyderabad
        • Gujarat
        • Lucknow
        • Live Scores
        • Point Table
        • Top Scorers
      • ICC
      • T20 World Cup 2022
    • Motorsport
    • Football
      • Qatar World Cup 2022
    • Tennis
    • Rugby
    • Golf in UAE
      • UAE
      • World
      • Photos & Videos
      • Course Reviews
      • Learn to Play
      • Gear
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • Pakistani Cinema
    • South Indian
    • Arab Celebs
    • Music
    • TV
    • Books
    • Theatre
    • Arts+Culture
  • Expo 2020
  • Going Out
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
    • Community
    • Fashion
  • GN Reach
  • Jobs
  • Tech
    • Electronics
    • Gaming
    • Media
  • Videos
    • How-To
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • Community
    • Technology
  • Travel
  • GN Focus
    • Special Features
  • Mind Your Migraine
  • 50 MENA Leaders
  • The Kurator
    • Share
    • Dare
    • Flair
  • Bayat Chapters
  • Gold-Forex
  • Gratuity Calculator
  • Notifications
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • Cinema Listing
  • GN Store
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
  • Printing Services
  • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2023. All rights reserved.
    UAE Labour Law: Can my employer force me to convert my stay at home due to COVID-19 into an annual leave?

    Living In UAE

    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety+Security

    Living In UAE

    Ask Us
    Browse articles by category
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety+Security
    Back to page
    Reader complaint

    UAE Labour Law: Can my employer force me to convert my stay at home due to COVID-19 into an annual leave?

    Employee’s rights regarding paid annual leave and special COVID-19 provisions for employer


    Published:  August 16, 2020 18:00 Huda Tabrez, Living in UAE Editor

    1 of 15
    If you were unable to work during the COVID-19 restrictions and had to stay at home, can your employer convert the stay at home into an annual leave?
    If you were unable to work remotely, can your stay at home be converted to an annual leave by your employer? Image Credit: Stock image
    2 of 15
    A Gulf News reader asked: “In April this year, my boss forced me to collect my annual leave payment as the salary for the month of April, because I was staying at home due to COVID-19 …
    A Gulf News reader shared his experience. Image Credit: Stock image
    3 of 15
    “… Now, in the month of August I have the need to travel because I lost my father. However, my boss said that he will not book my flight ticket because I have collected my leave salary in April …
    He was unable to work during the month of April, which was then counted as an annual leave by his employer. Image Credit: Stock image
    4 of 15
    “… I would like to know if this is according to the UAE Labour Law.”
    Can he ask for an annual leave now? Image Credit: Stock image
    5 of 15
    Gulf News raised the query with Dr Hassan Elhais, legal consultant at Dubai-based Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultancy, who spoke about two legal rules –the UAE Labour Law’s Article 76 as well as the special decree …
    Legal advice about the UAE Labour Law from Dr Hassan Elhais. Image Credit: Stock image
    6 of 15
    … issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation related to COVID-19.
    Article 76 of the UAE Labour Law and MOHRE's special decree for COVID-19 cover this aspect of employee-employer relationship. Image Credit: Stock image
    7 of 15
    Article 76 The employer may determine the date of the commencement of the annual leave, and may divide it if necessary to two or more periods.
    Article 76 of the UAE Labour Law Image Credit: Stock image
    8 of 15
    “Furthermore, Article 2 of the Ministerial Decision No. 279/2020 ‘Regarding the Stability of Employment in Private Sector Companies During the Period of Applying Precautionary Measures to Contain the Spread …
    Ministerial Decree No. 279 of 2020 Image Credit: Stock image
    9 of 15
    of the Novel Coronavirus (Ministerial Regulations)’, companies may take the following measures to deal with the restrictions imposed during the Pandemic.
    The decree provided clarity on what employers could do, if they were negative affected by COVID-19. Image Credit: Stock image
    10 of 15
    Article 2 of the Ministerial Decision No. 279/2020
    Article 2 of the decree provides alternatives for employers looking to reorganise the work structure. Image Credit: Stock image
    11 of 15
    Steps company can take: 1. Implementing the telecommuting system. 2. Granting him a paid leave.
    According to the article, employers can grant the employee a paid leave to deal with the impact of COVID-19 on their business. Image Credit: Stock image
    12 of 15
    3. Granting him leave without pay. 4. Reducing his wages temporarily during the period referred to. 5. Reducing his wages permanently.
    The decree provided a phased approach to dealing with the business impact of the health crisis. Image Credit: Stock image
    13 of 15
    Based on the two regulations, employer has the right to grant annual leave at his discretion.
    The employer has the right to grant annual leave at its discretion. Image Credit: Stock image
    14 of 15
    Entitlements like annual air tickets are determined based on contract
    The provision of air tickets, too, depends on the employment contract. Image Credit: Stock image
    15 of 15
    If the contract doesn't state so, employer is not obligated to reimburse ticket cost.
    Image Credit: Stock image
    Search the site
    Browse by Categories
    • Visa + Immigration
    • Housing
    • Telephone + Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety + Security

    Trending

    • 7 apps every tourist visiting Dubai must have

      7 apps every tourist visiting Dubai must have


    • UAE jobseeker visa: Is your college degree accepted?

      UAE jobseeker visa: Is your college degree accepted?


    • Mandatory Unemployment Insurance: How to sign up

      Mandatory Unemployment Insurance: How to sign up


    • 28 public parks with BBQ spots in Abu Dhabi

      28 public parks with BBQ spots in Abu Dhabi


    • How to top up and check nol card balance online

      How to top up and check nol card balance online


    • Free Saudi transit visa: How to apply

      Free Saudi transit visa: How to apply

    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • Friday
    • Watch Time
    • getthat
    • Jobs
    • GN Store
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    • Printing Services
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2023. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks
    Continue reading Gulf News
    Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com

    Dear Reader,

    This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without.

    Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com

    Create your account
    or login if you already have one
    First name is required.
    Last name is required.
    Please enter a valid email address.
    Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number
    Passwords do not match

    By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    Login your account
    New to Gulf News? Sign up now
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your password.

    Forgot password

    or