Labour ban in the UAE can be imposed in many ways but the major reason why you will get banned is because of the breach of your employment contract. Expats get a labour ban when they don’t finish their limited contract for at least 2 years. There are also possibilities that your employer will process your ban when you leave your work within your contract period without notifying him. A breach of contract will put you in trouble. As much as possible, expats are required to finish their contracts first before changing employers.
If you got a labour ban for leaving your previous work, did you know that you can still lift it and be able to apply for a new job in the UAE? The government of the country is generous enough to let expats restore their good employment status despite having a violation. Continue reading this article to learn more about how to lift the labour ban in the county.
Guide on How To Lift The Labour Ban in the UAE
There will be three conditions for you to lift your labour ban in the UAE. First is finding a job with a good position, working in a free zone company, and signing a mutual agreement with your previous employer.
Look for a job with a good position
To lift your labour ban or cancel it, you should work in a new company with a good position. The UAE law gives the following condition to qualify:
- You should have a high school diploma with a minimum salary of AED 5,000 or also known as the 3rd professional level.
- You should be a diploma holder with a minimum salary of AED 7,000 or also known as the 2nd professional level.
- You should be a Bachelor’s degree holder with a minimum salary of AED 12,000 or known as the 1st professional level.
This is according to the Article 4 of Ministerial Resolution No. 1186 of 2010 that talks about the rules and conditions of granting a new work permit to an employee after the stoppage of the working relationship in order to move from one employer to another.
Note that your new employer should coordinate with you regarding the lifting of the ban. The documents proving that qualifications above need to be submitted by your new HR to the Ministry of Labour.
Work in a free zone company
The second method to lift your labour ban is to work in a free zone company instead. Many expats share this experience regarding this method as this is one of the most effective. From a private sector, look for a free zone company where you can apply for. However, this should be done prior to submitting your resignation letter to your previous employer. You should talk to your new HR regarding your plans so they can get you an employment visa before you resign.
Sign a mutual agreement with your employer
The labour ban can be lifted, canceled, or not imposed at all if the employee and the employer will have a mutual agreement to stop the contract. If you are planning to resign before your contract is terminated, you should talk to your employer about it. A signed mutual agreement will save you both from processing the labour ban and going to the Ministry of Labor for case filing.
The solutions below are based on both laws and experiences. If there’s something unclear to you, you can always visit the UAE Ministry of Labour to seek for advice. You can also go to the official website of the UAE to review the labour laws. Don’t hesitate to share this with your friends who have been banned. You may be able to save lives with this information.