Ex-employee wins Dh57,400 in Abu Dhabi Labour Court ruling

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Labour Court has ordered a company to pay a former employee Dh57,400 and issue him a work certificate, after partially upholding his claims for unpaid wages, leave pay, and end-of-service benefits.

According to court records, the employee lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, alleging that his employer had failed to pay him for five months, withheld his leave pay for eight years, and did not settle his end-of-service gratuity or overtime dues.

The ministry referred the case to the court, where the plaintiff formally sought Dh17,500 in unpaid wages, Dh24,500 in leave pay, Dh37,800 in end-of-service benefits, Dh1,500 in overtime compensation for six months, a work certificate, and coverage of legal fees and costs.

He said that he had been employed on an open-ended contract for 15 years, earning a basic monthly salary of Dh2,800 and a total monthly pay of Dh3,500.

After reviewing Wage Protection System (WPS) records, the court found he was entitled to four months’ salary rather than the five months claimed, awarding him Dh14,000.

For leave pay, it ruled he was eligible only for compensation for the last two years of service, calculated based on his basic salary, amounting to Dh5,600.

His end-of-service benefits for 15 years, six months, and 26 days of service were calculated at Dh39,400.

In total, the court ordered the company to pay Dh57,400 and provide him with a work certificate.

However, his claim for overtime pay was rejected due to a lack of supporting evidence, and that portion of the case was dismissed.