UAE Company Ordered to Pay Rs 26 Lakh to Man Who Never Worked a Day
A man in the UAE has been awarded AED 110,400 (approx. ₹26 lakh) in unpaid wages by an Abu Dhabi court, despite never having started work at the company that hired him. The decision came after the employee filed a lawsuit claiming his salary was withheld illegally for the period between November 11, 2024, and April 7, 2025.
According to reports by Khaleej Times, the employee had signed a fixed-term contract that offered a basic salary of AED 7,200 and a total monthly compensation of AED 24,000. However, the company never allowed him to begin his job.
The Abu Dhabi Labour Court ruled that the employer was responsible for the delay in onboarding. It cited Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, which mandates employers to pay wages on time as per agreements, even if work hasn’t commenced. The court emphasized that wages are a legal right and cannot be withheld without justification.
The employer tried to argue that the man had not reported to work and had taken leave. However, the court found no evidence of any formal investigation or notice regarding absenteeism. The employee admitted to taking eight days off, which the court deducted from the final payout, resulting in a compensation covering four months and 18 days.
This ruling highlights the importance of honoring employment contracts and the legal protections in place for workers in the UAE.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
