In a recent ruling, the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has resolved a dispute involving a private company that had hired an assistant Arab engineer for the role of a farmer. The court has ordered the company to provide just compensation to the assistant engineer for their diligent work, unfair dismissal, and illegal termination. This article delves into the details of the case and highlights the court’s decision.
Case Background: According to reports from Arab media, the Arab engineer, acting as the petitioner, approached the court against the private company. The engineer asserted that they were recruited by the company under the job title of an agriculturist, as there was no available quota for an engineering position.
Petitioner’s Allegations: The petitioner contended that despite the employment contract designating them as a farmer, they were effectively employed as an assistant engineer and technician. The agreed salary amounted to 2,668 dirhams, and the engineer served in this capacity for a period of four years. Regrettably, the company failed to remunerate the engineer for a period of five months.
Compensation Claim: The Arab engineer demanded the company to pay the outstanding arrears of 44,595 dirhams through the legal proceedings.
Company’s Defense: During the court proceedings, the company’s representative claimed that the engineer had voluntarily left the job, notwithstanding the fact that the engineer had borrowed 3,308 dirhams from the company. However, the company representative admitted that the engineer had not received five months’ worth of salary.
Court Decision: After thorough examination of all presented details and evidence, the court ruled in favor of the assistant engineer. Consequently, the court has ordered the private company to compensate the engineer with a sum of 25,700 dirhams, which encompasses the unpaid salary, repatriation ticket expenses, case fees, and other related costs.
Conclusion: The recent judgment by the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Court in the UAE has rightfully addressed the issue of misclassification and unfair treatment faced by the assistant engineer in this private company. The court’s decision serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding fair employment practices and ensuring just compensation for employees.
