A paid leave is a period of rest given to employees to relax and recharge after a period of hard work. For employees, paid leave is often seen as a basic right granted in recognition of their hard work and contribution to the company.
It can be used to rest, travel, spend time with family and friends, or to pursue personal activities. They can also help employees improve their mental and physical well-being, which can have a positive impact on their work performance.
Employees may be able to choose when to take their paid leave, but it is important to note that employer policies may influence the availability of paid leave. For example, some companies may not allow paid leave during busy periods.
In general, employees see paid leave as an important benefit of their job and can use it to strengthen their work-life balance. Paid leave can also help employees to maintain their health and well-being, which can make them more productive and committed to their work.
National labour legislation specifies the rules on annual leave and the rights of workers in Chapters 74-81 of Federal Regulation 8 of 1980.
The employee’s contribution to paid leaves
In the United Arab Emirates, paid leaves are governed by the Labour Law, which sets the standards for the relationship between employers and employees in the country. This law sets out the conditions and criteria under which employers must grant paid leaves to their employees.
In general, employers are obliged to provide annual paid leaves to their employees who work full-time. The length of paid leaves may vary depending on the employee’s length of service, but generally employees can expect to receive at least 30 days of paid leave per year. This is in accordance with Article 29 of the UAE Employment Law.
Each year of employment entitles the employee to a certain number of days of annual leave, depending on the length of employment.
Employees on probation may be subject to different conditions for paid leave than employees in full-time employment. For employees with more than six months of actual work but less than one year of service with the company, they will be entitled to 2 days of paid holiday per month.
Employees who have been with the company for more than a year will be entitled to a minimum of 30 days’ holiday per year (weekends can be counted towards this).
Payment scheme for paid leaves
In the UAE, including Dubai, annual leaves are generally included in employees’ total remuneration. According to the Labour Law, employers are obliged to maintain the employee salary during their annual leave. Employers may not require deductions from employees’ annul leave.
Employers are required to pay unused paid leave to employees at the end of their working period. According to UAE labour law, employers must pay accrued paid leave to employees at the time of termination of their employment contract or when they resign.
It is important to note that employers cannot refuse to pay unused paid leave to employees.
Sick leave system in Dubai
The sick leave system in Dubai is governed by the UAE Federal Labour Law No. 8 of 1980.
In general, employers may grant sick leave to employees for a specified period of time depending on their state of health and seniority in the company.
According to the UAE Labour Law, employers can grant up to 30 days of sick leave per year to their employees (this number of days may vary). In order for your employer to maintain your salary during your absence, you will need to provide them with a sick leave certificate, which you can obtain from your doctor for a fee of AED80 (at your expense).
Sick leave can last up to 90 days without affecting your employment. The payment for sick leave is as follows:
– From 1 to 15 days, the leave will be fully paid (note that weekends and public holidays are counted in these 15 days);
– From 16 to 45 days, the leave will be semi-paid;
– From 45 to 90 days, the leave will be unpaid.
Please note: during the trial period, the employee is not entitled to paid sick leave.
Maternity leave in the UAE
Under the UAE Federal Labour Law, employers may grant up to 60 days of maternity leave to pregnant employees. This provision is in accordance with Article 30, paragraphs 1 and 3, of the Employment Law.
A woman is entitled to 60 days of maternity leave, broken down as follows
– 45 days of fully paid leave;
– 15 days of half-paid leave.
Beyond the 60 days, the worker may request an additional 45 days of maternity leave, which will not be paid.
Maternity leave can be requested up to 30 days before the expected date of delivery.
Employees may also be protected from dismissal during their maternity leave and may be entitled to additional parental leave to care for their baby in the event of post-partum illness.
Family-related leave
In general, employees can take family-related leave in the event of death, illness or to care for a relative. The amount of leave granted may vary depending on the employer and the agreement with the employee. Employers can also offer additional paid leave for employees with family obligations, but they are not obliged to do so.
It is important to note that employers can refuse family-related leave if it will affect the operations of the business, but they must inform the employee with sufficient time to allow the employee to make arrangements accordingly.
It is Article 32 that states that employees are entitled to:
– 5 days of paid leave in the event of the death of a first-degree relative;
– 3 working days of paid leave in the event of the death of a second-degree relative.
Unpaid leaves in the UAE
Leave without pay means that employees can take days off without pay. There are several situations where employees can request unpaid leave.
Leave for Umrah (pilgrimage to Mecca)
According to Article 87 of the UAE Labour Law, a Muslim employee is entitled to unpaid leave in the case of an Umrah or Hajj pilgrimage
Employees may be granted special leave for the performance of Hajj and Umrah, subject to conditions:
– The leave shall be unpaid;
– The duration of the leave shall not exceed 30 days;
– The leave may be granted only once during the period of employment with the company.
Other specific leaves
– Parental leave: an employee may be granted five days of parental leave, which must be taken within six months of the date of birth. In particular, paternity leave is possible;
– Study leave: an employee may be granted ten days of study leave per year if they are a student at an educational institution in the UAE, provided they have completed two years of service with their employer.
The information presented on this blog is intended to provide general information and should not be taken as professional or legal advice.
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