Abu Dhabi firm told to pay an employee Dhs28,220 for working on holidays, overtime

Abu Dhabi Labour Court of First Instance obligated a company to pay an employee Dhs28,220 for working overtime and on official holidays although there were no documents indicating that he was assigned to do so.

According to the official documents, the employee filed a lawsuit against his company in which he requested the court to obligate it to pay him for working overtime and on weekend holidays for five months.

The court appointed an expert whose report concluded that the employee worked 15 hours a day plus 4 extra hours, totaling 1258 days. The expert, however, found no documentation indicating the employee was assigned any additional work, although records showed he worked four extra hours.

An employer is permitted to assign an employee more than two hours of overtime per day only under specific regulations.

The expert found that the employee actually worked on 102 holiday days and according to labour laws, a worker is compensated with an alternative off day or the wage for that day plus 50 per cent of the basic wage.

The court stated that it was established that the employee worked 15 hours a day, i.e. 1258 days, and was entitled to Dhs17,690 for that.

However, it was established in the records that he worked on holidays, which amounted to 100 days without being assigned to do so and was hence entitled to Dhs10,530 for that and the total amount he was entitled to was Dhs28,220, the court added.