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Labour ban

I have been working with a chemical company in Jebel Ali outside the free zone since August 2010 on a limited contract of three years. Now I have a good offer from a lubricant company at the Jebel Ali Free Zone. As per my contract, if I wish to terminate my contract I have to give one month notice, but the general manager asked me to give 45 days notice. Is it right? My new employer wants me to join as soon as possible. Will I be liable for a labour ban if I move from a no-free zone to a free zone? Do I have to pay for my visa expenses for the remaining months?

Since you have not completed two years with your current employer, a ban for the period of six months will be automatically imposed on you by the Ministry of Labour. However, you may join the new company without a ban if you fall in any of the following categories as mentioned in the Cabinet Resolution No 25 of 2010 regarding internal work permit at the Ministry of Labour:

In order to remove the ban, an employee must prove qualifications by presenting a duly attested educational certificate as mentioned herein (i) If an employee holds a university degree (master), and earns a minimum of Dh12,000 per month; (ii) If an employee holds a diploma (post secondary) and earns a minimum of Dh7,000 per month; and (iii) If an employee has passed high school and earns a minimum of Dh5,000 per month.

The contract is terminated due to the employer’s violation of legal and labour obligations towards the worker, or in case the worker has no role in terminating the work relationship.

The employee is transferred to another company the employer owns or has shares in.