United Arab Emirates

Amendments to Federal Law (8) of 1980 on the organization of work introduced article (30) confirming that an employer may not terminate the service of a working women or give her a warning due to her pregnancy. Any termination of service due to pregnancy is considered arbitrary by virtue of article (122) of the law. Also introduced was article (7) prohibiting any kind of discrimination between people, which would weaken the equality of opportunity and infringe, among other things, on equality of access to jobs.

Federal Law No. 10 regulates domestic work and enhances protection for domestic workers.

Under the latest long-term residence visa policy, a new system for long-term residence visas (5 or 10 years) are granted to investors and entrepreneurs who meet specific requirements as well as exceptionally performing students. This allows foreigners to live, work and study in the country without a national sponsor and allows them to have 100 per cent ownership of their business on the country's mainland.

The UAE and the Philippines signed a MoU on Cooperation in Combating Human Trafficking and outlines the two countries’ cooperation to adopt procedures to combat human trafficking, share best practices, exchange information, promote human rights, and provide assistance in the protection, rescue, repatriation, recovery, and rehabilitation of trafficking victims in accordance with domestic laws.

The decree extends residence permits of non-Emirati widows and divorced women and their children for one year from the death of the Emirati spouse or the divorce without needing a sponsor.