Six-month ban lifted for UAE residents looking to change jobs

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Six-month ban lifted for UAE residents looking to change jobs   Officials said that as of Friday, January 1, many employees will have the option to leave their position and begin a new job without penalty. This is as long as their departure is by mutual agreement with their company and not contested. The change is part of a series of new labour regulations first announced in September. The ministry said the ban affected about 340,000 of the one million workers who cancelled their work permits in 2014. In many cases the person would have had to leave the country until the period expires. But that will change under the new ruling. Assistant Undersecretary Humaid bin Deemas Al Suwaidi said the move is intended to “attract and keep talent” in the UAE. At present, many employees can only switch jobs without being hit by the ban if they have completed two years work, though the regulations depend on their salary and qualifications. RELATED: Rights on changing jobs in UAE The easing of the ban is expected to benefit middle and lower income workers in particular. Among those already exempted from the six-month ban are; university graduates on Dhs12,000 per month or more, diploma graduates on Dhs7,000 or higher, and secondary school graduates earning at least Dhs5,000. Al Suwaidi said: “Employees who end their service in agreement with their establishment and cancel their work permits will be allowed to move to another establishment, even if they have not completed two years at their workplace. The new rule will cancel the six months ban.” He continued: “We are working to promote workers from within the country rather than bringing them from abroad because these workers have expertise in the country. Attracting and keep talent will help us become a knowledge-based economy.” Among those who will not be exempted from the ban are lower-skilled employees who do not have a secondary school graduate certificate. They will only be able to avoid the ban if they have worked for their employer for at least six months. In addition, employees on a fixed-term contract, such as a two or three-year agreement, will still have to meet the obligations set out in their contract or face the penalties detailed in the agreement. Nearly a third of the 820 readers who responded to a 7DAYS poll about the difficulties in changing jobs last month said their employer had prevented them from taking a new job. wafa.issa@7days.ae Read the original story at: Six-month ban lifted for UAE residents looking to change jobs