Abu Dhabi Global Market introduces new employment regulations in the financial free zone
The UAE’s Abu Dhabi Global Market financial free zone has introduced its Employment Regulations 2024 replacing the ADGM’s Employment Regulations 2019.
The 2024 Regulations will be effective from 1 April 2025 and will apply to all employers and employees in the ADGM.
The ADGM Regulatory Authority notes the following key changes to ADGM employment law in the new Regulations:
Amending the definition of ‘employee’ to enable employers to hire remote employees and to allow for more flexible working arrangements.
Clarifying ambiguities related to employee entitlements, including part-time employees.
Clarifying certain requirements regarding obtaining and cancelling an employee’s work permit and visa.
Expanding obligations and responsibilities related to discrimination and victimisation in the workplace.
Among the detail of the new Regulations, they:
- Require all employment contracts to be in the English language and to be signed by both the employer and employee within one month of the start of employment.
- Limit the period of probation remains to six months but entitle employees to sick leave but not sick pay during that period.
- Require employers to obtain their employees’ written consent to work overtime, beyond the maximum of a 48-hour working week. Rules or guidance on overtime working may be released in due course.
- Extend maternity rights to employees adopting children under 5.
- Change the protected characteristic of ‘gender’ to one of ‘sex’ in the rules against discrimination.
The 2024 Regulations can be viewed here.
