Abu Dhabi court orders firm to pay Dh289,000 in delayed wages and gratuity to ex-employee

The Abu Dhabi Labour Court of First Instance ruled that a company must pay an employee who had worked for them for 22 years the sum of Dhs289,265.

This ruling is enforceable immediately without the need for bail and includes fees and expenses relating to wages and end-of-service benefits.

The case dates back to the time when an individual filed a complaint with the Department of Labour at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation against his former employer.

As the department was unable to resolve the dispute, it was referred to court. The individual then filed a lawsuit against the company, requesting that it be obliged to pay him Dhs150,400 in back wages, Dhs138,865 in end-of-service benefits, and Dhs24,000 in housing allowance.

The Court also ordered the company to pay fees and expenses, enforcing the ruling immediately. The complaint was based on the claim that the individual had a fixed-term employment contract with the company and had resigned from his job.

However, despite his basic monthly salary being Dhs6,720, the company had not paid his wages in full.

The case papers indicated that the employee had resigned due to non-payment of wages. The onus was on the company to prove payment of wages, but it did not provide a defence indicating payment. As his total salary was Dhs8,400, he is entitled to back pay of Dhs229,880.

As he requested back wages totalling Dhs150,400 for the period in question, the court ruled in his favour, awarding him Dhs150,400. Since the employee had worked for the company for 22 years and 2 months and his basic monthly salary was Dhs6,720, he is entitled to Dhs138,880.

As his claim was for Dhs138,865, the court ruled in his favour for this amount. As the employee is not entitled to a housing allowance, he is entitled to a total of Dhs289,265.