UAE workers hoping to start the New Year with a career change will be pleased with this recent announcement.
Effective January 1, 2016, Friday, employees will have the choice to leave their current job and work on a new one without being penalized. This, of course, is provided that their departure has been decided through a mutual agreement with their company.
This change will be implemented as part of the new labor regulations that were first announced back in September.
Previously, the bad held back around 340,000 workers who had their work permits cancelled in 2014. In most cases, the individual had to wait for expiration of the permit. Fortunately, that will no longer be the scenario because of this new regulation.
Assistant Undersecretary Humaid bin Deemas Al Suwaidi said that UAE intends to “attract and keep talent.”
Al Suwaidi further explained “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.”
“We are working to promote workers from within the country rather than bringing them from abroad because these workers have expertise in the country,” he added. “Attracting and keeping talent will help us become a knowledge-based economy.”
As of present time, employees are only allowed to leave and apply for a new job if they have already completed two years of work. Exceptions to this rule, however, depend on the qualifications and salary. The lifting of the ban will directly impact the lower and middle income workers.
The implementation of this regulation is expected to be a big benefit for employees who have been held back by their employers in the past from seeking different jobs.