UAE: Not receiving a salary increment despite being promised one earlier? Here's what you can do

Question: I joined a private company as an accountant around four years ago. At the time of joining, the company assured me that they would increase my salary and promote me after two years. But this didn’t materialise despite my regular reminders. What options do I have? Will I get what I was promised if I take the legal course? Please guide.

Answer: Pursuant to your queries, it is assumed that you are employed by a private company in the mainland of UAE, therefore, the provisions of Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relations and Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 on the implementation of Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 regarding the Regulation of Employment Relations are applicable.

An employer in the UAE needs to fulfil all the obligations mentioned in the employment contract of an employee, the Employment Law and its subsequent ministerial resolutions. This is in accordance with Article 8(2) of the Employment Law, which states, “The employee, or his representative may prove the employment contract, the salary and any other rights he is entitled to under the provisions of this Decree-Law and its Executive Regulations and implementing resolutions by any means of proof."

Moreover, an employer and employee may agree to include additional clauses in the employment contract which are in accordance with the Employment Law, Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 and subsequent ministerial resolutions. This is in accordance with Article 10 (2) of the Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, which states, “Subject to the provisions of Article 8 of the Decree Law, an employee and an employer may agree to introduce new clauses to the approved contract forms, provided that they are in agreement with the provisions of the Decree-Law, this Resolution and the Legal Regulations".

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