Holding passport of employee is illegal

Khaleej Times

• Holding passport of employee is illegal

 

21 May 2012: I have been working as a mechanical engineer in a Sharjah-based company since January 2011. My company is threatening to sack me unless I give them my passport. Is this legal?

 

Holding the employee’s passport from him is illegal. If such action occurs, the staff can approach the nearest police station and the company will have to hand over the passport there. Your company has no right to hold your passport. Retaining employees’ passports by employers is against the UAE Labour Law.

 

The passport is a personal document of its holder and its final authority is the issuing government. You may also file a complaint at the police department for obtaining your passport.