Ministry sets conditions for job transfers during probation periods

At a glance

• The UAE government has announced new regulations governing employee job transfers during probation periods, establishing four key conditions whilst protecting employer rights.
• Under the updated labour regulations, workers must meet specific requirements before switching employers during their probation period. 

The UAE government has introduced new regulations for employee job transfers during probation periods, establishing four key conditions while safeguarding employer rights:

• Employees must provide at least one month’s written notice to their current employer before transferring to a new job during probation.
• Alternatively, employees may compensate their employer with an amount equal to their wages for the notice period or its remaining duration.
• The current employer may recover recruitment and contractual costs from the new employer.
• Workers must also give at least 14 days’ notice before their intended departure; failure to do so requires compensation equal to full wages for the notice period or its remainder.