Do you relocate employees from foreign jurisdictions to the UAE? Or are you expanding your business in the UAE? 

Here are some thoughts on the issues you will need to address in cross-border employment. Watch this space for the application of the new Remote Work Visa.

Since its establishment in 1971, the United Arab of Emirates (“UAE”) has come a long way in respect of its infrastructure, development and its openness to diverse cultures. The UAE has quickly become an extremely attractive destination for multinational and regional corporations as a gateway for entering the Middle East market. The UAE is now considered a significant hub for multinational corporations, allowing them to manage their operations in the MENA region (and beyond) seamlessly.

Not only the multinational corporates but also individuals from all over the globe, and their families, have become attracted to live and work in the UAE. According to the 27^th edition of the Annual Economic Report 2019, the UAE had a total labour force of 7,400,000 million approximately in 2018 and became a home to over 200 nationalities. 

The cross-border employment becomes relevant, primarily, in two scenarios:

• A foreign entity chooses the UAE as a new destination for its business. This foreign entity (the “Overseas Entity”) will, in most cases, be required to set up a corporate presence in the UAE (the “Local Entity”). The Local Entity can be incorporated in the UAE onshore area, commonly referred to as mainland, or within one of the UAE free zones. When deciding on the place of incorporation of the Local Entity (whether in mainland or in a free zone), the Overseas Entity will simultaneously consider sending its existing employees from the foreign jurisdiction to the UAE to work for the Local Entity and assist in its growth. 
• Multinational employer seconds or relocates its employees from an overseas jurisdiction to the UAE. While doing so, the Overseas Entity will have to handle this process carefully. Improper handling of this cross-border employment can have dramatic ramifications, so it is important that from the outset that the Overseas Entity has a good understanding of the practicality of the UAE Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 (the “UAE Labour Law”) or any other applicable laws such as DIFC Employment Law or ADGM Employment Regulations.

• Employment Contract
• Continuity of Employment
• Remuneration
• Pension vs. End of Service Gratuity
• Termination of Employment
• UAE resident visa and recent developments

There needs to be a well drafted contract that clearly sets out the legal relationship between the employee, the Overseas Entity in the foreign jurisdiction and the Local Entity in the UAE. Failure to appropriately deal with these from the outset can open both the Overseas Entity and the Local Entity to dual employment rights, multiple court jurisdictions and conflict of laws.

One of the key issues when relocating an employee from the Overseas Entity to the Local Entity is continuity of employment. The Overseas Entity can opt to either (A) continue the employment relationship between itself and the employee during the relocation period while the employee is also employed by the Local Entity or (B) terminate the employment relationship, settle all existing labour entitlements, subject to applicable laws in the overseas jurisdiction, and start a new employment relationship between the Local Entity and the employee. 

In cross-border employment scenarios, some employers prefer to keep the salary payment arrangements unchanged so the Overseas Entity continues to make monthly salary payments into the employee’s bank account in the foreign country or via international wire transfer to the employee’s bank account in the UAE. However, in some cases this arrangement is not possible as some employers (depending on their place of their incorporation in the UAE) will need to comply with Ministerial Resolution No. 788 of 2009 and pay salaries in accordance with the UAE Wages Protection System. This system requires some employers to transfer the employee’s salary into a UAE bank account in the UAE currency.

One important point to highlight, is the Local Entity’s obligation to pay end of service gratuity (“EOSG”) to the employee at the end of employment. Nevertheless, there are some scenarios where the Overseas Entity has offered the employee contributions to a pension scheme. The UAE Labour Law has allowed Local Entity to opt out from the EOSG given the existence of a more favourable pension scheme.

The employment contract must specify that the pension contributions made will be a substitute to the EOSG and the employees must expressly agree and acknowledge that these contributions will be paid to them in place of the EOSG (if not, the employee will arguably be entitled to the pension in the overseas jurisdiction and the EOSG in the UAE). As mentioned above, a clear contract must be drafted to set out this arrangement carefully.

Employers based in the DIFC will have comply with its Employee Workplace Saving Scheme (DEWS) which has been introduced by the DIFC Authority as a replacement to EOSG.

Most of the issues which arise in relation to cross-border employment in the UAE come to light on the termination of the employment relationship. Depending on the circumstances, the employee could potentially bring claims against both the Overseas Entity and the Local Entity for arbitrary dismissal and EOSG.

In addition, the UAE Courts may have the jurisdiction to accept the employee’s claim against both the Overseas Entity and the Local Entity. More importantly, the UAE Courts may extend the application of the UAE Labour Law to the relationship between the Overseas Entity (in the foreign jurisdiction) and the employee, even if the relationship between both began before the employee relocated to the Local Entity (in the UAE). The employee may also try to bring a claim in the foreign jurisdiction if the employment rights and entitlements there are more favourable than those in the UAE.

The Local Entity will have to comply with the regulations governing employment in the UAE such as obtaining valid resident visas and work permits for the relocated employees. Failing which, the Local Entity can face penalties up to AED 100,000 and in some cases imprisonment for both the employee and the general manager of the Local Entity.

In March 2021, the UAE announced the introduction of a residence permit for remote workers. H.H Sheikh Mohamed, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and ruler of the Emirate of Dubai has published on his official twitter account: “During a cabinet meeting I chaired, we approved a new Remote work Visa that enables employees from all over the world to live and work remotely from the UAE even if their companies are based in another country”.

This is a unique and positive change in opening up the employment visa system in the UAE and we will continue to watch this space to see the enforcement of the new Remote Work Visa and its practicality in the employment market.

As this article shows, the ramifications of failure to properly plan for and handle cross-border employment arrangements can be problematic in the UAE and beyond. The stakes are particularly high with senior employees relocating from Overseas Entities to Local Entities in the UAE.

We have seen specific cases before the Dubai Court of Cassation awarding EOSG for employees on the full employment duration including employment with the Overseas Entity which did not take place in the UAE and ruling against both the Overseas Entity and the Local Entity on a joint and several basis.

The considerations outlined in this article are especially crucial for multinational and regional corporations and legal advice should be sought to appropriately plan for the potential pitfalls inherent with cross-border employee relocations.

Ammar El Banna

Senior Counsel & Head of Employment, OHG Legal

Ammar is a bilingual (Arabic-/English-speaking) dispute resolution and employment lawyer. He recently joined OGH Legal as Senior Counsel & Head of Employment, having worked for thirteen years in two major law firms in the UAE.

He is an approved legal trainer for the Government of Dubai-Legal Affairs Department delivering training to other law practitioners (in both English and Arabic). He provides legal training in topics such as Employment Law, Damages in Focus, Enforcement of Arbitration Awards and Civil Procedural Law. 

M: +971 (0)55 774 0979

E: ammar.elbanna@oghlegal.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ammar-el-banna-618ba576/