The National's resident consumer advocate Keren Bobker answers questions on formal notices regarding resignations and requirements for salaries to be directly deposited in banks.
I have been employed by a company in Abu Dhabi for over four years on an unlimited contract but I have decided to return to New Zealand. I submitted my resignation both in writing and by email two weeks ago, but although I know my manager has received it, he has not responded and has now gone on holiday. Does my notice period start from the date I submitted my resignation or when the company officially accepts it? EH, Abu Dhabi
According to UAE labour law, you must give your employer formal notice in respect of resignation in accordance with the terms set out in your employment contract, with a minimum 30 days' notice. The law does not require the acceptance of the other party, so as your employer has received your resignation letter and has not objected to it or refused it, then you can consider it accepted and you are now working your notice.
I bought a T-shirt from Groupon on January 4 and the confirmation voucher said to allow four days for delivery. After two weeks I still hadn't received it, so I called the company who told me that they will start the delivery in two days, although they had not told me about delays on ordering. One week later still nothing had arrived so I called again on January 23, 19 days after the original order and I asked to speak with someone in management. The woman said that they were sorry, but there was a problem with the T-shirts and said I would receive a call no later than January 27. As expected no one called. I have no T-shirt, which was supposed to have been a birthday gift in early January. No T-shirt, no refund and no explanation. Can you please help me? CM, Dubai
I initially contacted Groupon via their contact form on their website and also via their Twitter account, but did not receive a response. I then found the contact details of the press department and a very helpful senior staff member investigated promptly and sorted the matter out for CM. She now has the T-shirt she ordered, which was delivered within 24 hours of the complaint being dealt with, and a refund of Dh50 (US$13.61) in her Groupon account, so she is happy with the outcome.
I am an Indian national. I was issued with an employment contract for a period of one year and monthly wages in US dollars were agreed. My job was on board an oil rig with 28/28 days on/off rotation. After two rotations, while on leave, I received an email that told me there had been a mistake in the wages mentioned and that they would be reduced by approximately 35 per cent. If this was not acceptable, then I would have to resign. I told them that a reduction in wages was not acceptable to me and I was sent a termination letter. As a result I have lost my job and been unemployed for the last three months. Is it possible to get compensation in this case? KS, India
If a company has made an offer of employment for a specific amount of salary, it is very bad form to try to reduce this after the offer has been accepted, let alone once a person has been working for them. Technically a company cannot simply reduce an employee's salary without that person's written agreement, but they do not have to give any reason for making someone redundant, particularly if the employee is still in a probationary period, which could be for up to six months. There is really nothing that KS can do in the circumstances.
I have recently located to Dubai, having been relocated by the United Kingdom head office of my employer. I do not yet have a proper residency visa but I have been told that this is being organised for me. The branch office is registered in Dubai, with a trading licence, and the main director has told me that the law requires the company to pay my salary into a local bank account and that it is illegal to pay me via my bank account in the UK. They are arranging a UAE bank account for me, but it is not ready yet and therefore I have not been paid. Can you tell me the actual situation so I know where I stand? IN, Dubai
While there is not a specific law stating that you require a local bank account, the Wages Protection System (WPS) is a form of de-facto enforcement. This system requires that an employer pays the exact salary, per the employment contract lodged with the Ministry of Labour, to your bank account and this account must be in the UAE. You do not need your employer to open your bank account and even without a residency visa you can open a simple savings account into which a cheque or transfer can be paid. Even if you do not have a bank account there is no reason why your employer should not pay you as they could give you a cheque made out to cash, which you then take to a branch of the bank to encash. While this is clearly not ideal, it at least means that you will be paid.
Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com
pf@thenational.ae
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
Results:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 (PA) | Group 1 US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
Winner: Goshawke, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) | Listed $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Silva, Oisin Murphy, Pia Brendt
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) | Conditions $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
Winner: Golden Jaguar, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) | Group 3 $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
Winner: Oasis Charm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Winner: Escalator, Christopher Hayes, Charlie Fellowes
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Company%20Profile
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
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Kanye%20West
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
'Joker'
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Rating: Five out of five stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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