4/26/20

Can UAE employers keep a passport throughout the coronavirus crisis?


You may file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and at a police station.






Question: My enterprise has terminated my employment and my passport is still in the custody of my employer. I 

had requested my employer to return my passport and they said that it'll be handed over to me whilst I go away 

to the UAE. Can an organization withhold the passport of its employees as there are no inbound and outbound 

passenger flights within the UAE currently due to the Covid-19 crisis?

Answer:

The exercise of employers withholding the passports of their employees is prohibited underneath Circular No. 267 

of 2002 issued by using the Ministry of Interior (MoI) - unless it's far carried out by means of the 

the judicial government in accordance with applicable provisions of the prevailing laws of the UAE.

You can host iftar with as much as five family members, family in Dubai.


However, if an employee is of the same opinion to turn in his passport to the organization, then such ownership of 

the employee's passport with the aid of the corporation shall now not be deemed 

unlawful, supplied the employees' consent is obtained in writing and the organization has the same opinion to 

return the passport at his request. Therefore, as you are inquiring for your employer at hand over your passport to 

you, the company is obligated to do the same. If your organization refuses to return your passport for your request, 

you may file a grievance with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and at a police station having 

jurisdiction.

Know the law;

If an employee is of the same opinion to hand over his passport to the organization, then such ownership of the 

employee's passport with the aid of the agency shall not be deemed unlawful.