Practice Areas Employment & Benefits

Our Attorneys Help Local and International Companies Navigate the Complexities of Labour Law Compliance in the Middle East

Like many aspects of doing business in the Middle East, navigating the complexities of labour law compliance presents a variety of challenges. The laws governing employment relationships and benefits in many MENA nations are very different from those to which foreign companies and law firms are accustomed. At GLA & Co, we regularly advise local and international companies on employment and benefit matters. Our attorneys are well-versed in the relevant laws and regulations, and they offer advice that is custom-tailored to each individual company’s needs.

One challenge of labour law compliance in the Middle East is that the relevant laws change frequently. For example, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) adopted a sweeping overhaul of its labour laws—in the form of Federal Law No. 33—in 2022. With this in mind, maintaining compliance requires companies to work with local attorneys who stay up-to-date on the governing legislation. This is a core focus of our practice, and we take a proactive approach to ensuring that our clients’ employment policies and practices remain compliant with the law.

Our Services for Employers

Our services for employers doing business in the Middle East include:

Labour Law and Regulatory Compliance

We assist companies with labour law and regulatory compliance in all Middle Eastern nations, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE). Employers’ obligations across borders are not uniform, which complicates establishing and maintaining compliance for many companies. Therefore, we work with our clients to adopt compliant employment policies, procedures, and agreements, and we assist them with auditing and maintaining compliance on an ongoing basis.

Hiring and Employment Contracts

Our attorneys help companies adopt and enforce compliant hiring practices in the Middle East. Our attorneys also draft and negotiate employment contracts for our clients—including (but not limited to) contracts designed to comply with the UAE’s new Federal Law No. 33.

Terminations

Given the unique requirements of Middle Eastern labour laws and regulations, terminating employees presents unique risks for employers in many cases. We help our clients understand their legal rights and obligations, and we help them make informed decisions regarding employee terminations. We provide representation for termination-related employment disputes as well.

End of Service & Indemnity

Under the local jurisdictions, employers are subject to end-of-service indemnity requirements. Under these laws, employers must pay an indemnity, or gratuity, to qualifying employees when they leave their employment. This applies to resignations as well as dismissals in most cases. We assist employers with understanding and meeting their obligations with regard to end-of-service indemnity.

Speak with an Attorney in Our Employment & Benefits Practice

Please contact us for more information about our Employment & Benefits Practice to arrange an initial confidential consultation.