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Surely this agreement is illegal?

3K views 12 replies 8 participants last post by  notoriouseddie 
#1 ·
Now I don't know much about employment law in Dubai so perhaps current residents of Dubai could help me out.

Im currently job hunting at the moment in Dubai, hoping to find work as a dentist. I've had a few e-mails from various clinics expressing an interest however the one I was most interested in have sent me an 'agreement' that I need to read and sign before they get the ball rolling for applying for visa's, Health Authority Licenses etc. My brother currently works in Dubai and his advise is to avoid this company at all cost. Im pretty sure I will but any input would be greatly appreciated.

Here's the e-mail. Ive blocked out names and company info for obvious reasons:

Dear Dr XXXXXX

Please find below the standerd initial agreement of our polyclinic,that you need to read and then you can sign and eamil back. However, if you have any enquirey just come back to us.

Regards,

Dr xxxxxx

1ST PARTY: Dr XXXX of the XXX clinic
2ND PARTY:

POSITION: FULL TIME DENTIST

1-POST OPENING TO BE CONFIRMED

2-CONTRACT PERIOD OF TWO YEARS ,RENEWABLE

3-PROBATION PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS

4-DUTIES;GENERAL DENTISTRY AND ITS FIELDS THAT DENTIST MENTION THEM ON THE EMAIL.

5-VISA PROCESSING/Mal practice insurence and DHA license fees WILL BE 50% PAID BY THE clinic,however in case of stopping working for the polyclinic for any reason like termination ,resignation ...etc,the employee has to pay back all those fees to the polyclinic.

6-THERE WILL BE A CLINIC POLICY AND INSTRUCTIONS THAT EMPOLYEE NEEDS TO READ AND SIGN.

7-STERILISATION WILL BE TOTALLY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NURSE ,DOCTORS SOULD FOLLOW UP.THERERFORE CLINIC MANAGEMENT WILL TAKE ALL LEGAL STRICT MEASUREMENTS AND SUE ANY NURSE LEGALLY FOR THAT IF ANY CARELESSSNESS HAS BEEN FOUND.

8-ONE MONTH LEAVE EVERY YEAR, NOT PAID AS YOU ARE WORKING FOR A PERCENTAGE.

9-WORKING HOURS WILL BE FOURTY EIGHT HOUR/WEEK,INCLUDING THE HOLLY MONTH OF RAMADAN

10-MONTHLY SALARY WILL BE 50% OF THE INCOME AFTER DEDUCTION OF MATERIAL,LABORATORY ...ETC. DOCTOR'S INCOME DONE BY HIM/HERSELF,BUT NO PAYMENT WILL BE DONE FOR ANY REFERRALS TO ANY DEPARTMENT BY THAT DOCTOR/DENTIST.

11-I/WE GIVE THE AUTHORITY TO DR XXXXXX TO NEGOTIATE AND SIGN FOR DIFFERENT ADVERTISEMENT DEALS THAT XXXXXX CLINIC MAY DO AT ANY TIME AS PROMOTION FOR ALL THE CLINIC DEPARTMENTS AND DOCTORS WORKING FOR THIS POLYCLINIC.

12-IN CASE OF RESIGNATION OR TEMINATION OR contract expiration,you WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO compete or practice in DUBAI AND ITS FREE ZONES FOR THE PERIOD OF TWO YEARS
 
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#2 ·
Apart from the fact that whoever wrote this agreement can't spell, there are a few points in here which do not comply with labour law - see comments in blue below:

Now I don't know much about employment law in Dubai so perhaps current residents of Dubai could help me out.

Im currently job hunting at the moment in Dubai, hoping to find work as a dentist. I've had a few e-mails from various clinics expressing an interest however the one I was most interested in have sent me an 'agreement' that I need to read and sign before they get the ball rolling for applying for visa's, Health Authority Licenses etc. My brother currently works in Dubai and his advise is to avoid this company at all cost. Im pretty sure I will but any input would be greatly appreciated.

Here's the e-mail. Ive blocked out names and company info for obvious reasons:

Dear Dr XXXXXX

Please find below the standerd initial agreement of our polyclinic,that you need to read and then you can sign and eamil back. However, if you have any enquirey just come back to us.

Regards,

Dr xxxxxx

1ST PARTY: Dr XXXX of the XXX clinic
2ND PARTY:

POSITION: FULL TIME DENTIST

1-POST OPENING TO BE CONFIRMED

2-CONTRACT PERIOD OF TWO YEARS ,RENEWABLE

3-PROBATION PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS

4-DUTIES;GENERAL DENTISTRY AND ITS FIELDS THAT DENTIST MENTION THEM ON THE EMAIL.

5-VISA PROCESSING/Mal practice insurence and DHA license fees WILL BE 50% PAID BY THE clinic,however in case of stopping working for the polyclinic for any reason like termination ,resignation ...etc,the employee has to pay back all those fees to the polyclinic.

Visa processing costs should be borne by the employer and should not be charged back to the employee at any point (although I know lots of companies try to do this).

6-THERE WILL BE A CLINIC POLICY AND INSTRUCTIONS THAT EMPOLYEE NEEDS TO READ AND SIGN.

7-STERILISATION WILL BE TOTALLY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NURSE ,DOCTORS SOULD FOLLOW UP.THERERFORE CLINIC MANAGEMENT WILL TAKE ALL LEGAL STRICT MEASUREMENTS AND SUE ANY NURSE LEGALLY FOR THAT IF ANY CARELESSSNESS HAS BEEN FOUND.

8-ONE MONTH LEAVE EVERY YEAR, NOT PAID AS YOU ARE WORKING FOR A PERCENTAGE.

All employees are entitled to one months' (22 working days or 30 calendar days) paid leave per year; without more information I don't understand exactly what they mean by "working for a percentage" but this implies that at least part of your wage would be guaranteed, in which case you should receive at least that rate when on leave.

9-WORKING HOURS WILL BE FOURTY EIGHT HOUR/WEEK,INCLUDING THE HOLLY MONTH OF RAMADAN

All employees are also entitled to work shortened hours during Ramadan unless deemed to be a "person holding responsible, managerial or supervisory positions, if such position confers upon the holder the power of an employer over workers." This usually covers directors, general managers, heads of department or individuals in supervisory positions. These individuals also fall outside overtime entitlements.

10-MONTHLY SALARY WILL BE 50% OF THE INCOME AFTER DEDUCTION OF MATERIAL,LABORATORY ...ETC. DOCTOR'S INCOME DONE BY HIM/HERSELF,BUT NO PAYMENT WILL BE DONE FOR ANY REFERRALS TO ANY DEPARTMENT BY THAT DOCTOR/DENTIST.

11-I/WE GIVE THE AUTHORITY TO DR XXXXXX TO NEGOTIATE AND SIGN FOR DIFFERENT ADVERTISEMENT DEALS THAT XXXXXX CLINIC MAY DO AT ANY TIME AS PROMOTION FOR ALL THE CLINIC DEPARTMENTS AND DOCTORS WORKING FOR THIS POLYCLINIC.

12-IN CASE OF RESIGNATION OR TEMINATION OR contract expiration,you WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO compete or practice in DUBAI AND ITS FREE ZONES FOR THE PERIOD OF TWO YEARS

Lots of contracts include non-compete clauses but in practise these are pretty much non-enforceable unless you are a director or shareholder of the company. It seems unlikely that you'll go ahead with this offer but if you do, or if you receive another offer with a non-compete clause, I recommend asking the company to include a statement within the contract that both parties understand that the clause will not be applied in a manner that will prevent a loss of livelihood to the employee. This basically means that should they enforce the clause, you would need to come to some agreement where they put you on gardening leave and paid you for whatever period of non-competition they wished to enforce.




Hope that's of some help, and best of luck with your job search!
 
#3 ·
Hope that's of some help, and best of luck with your job search!
Thanks a lot for your response

The thing that I'm not sure about is whether I would employed by the practice or whether I am considered as self-employed.

How it works as a dentist in the UK, assuming you dont own the practice, you basically generate your earnings from treatment carried out. The total at the end of the month has costs like lab bills, supperanuation etc deducted from it, then whats left over is split 50/50 between the dentist and the practice owners. Almost all dentists are therefore self-employed as their salary is totally dependant on the amount of work carried out.

I have no clue if its a similar set up in Dubai. I think I read somewhere that another practice was offering a fixed salary + a percentage of practice profits - im unsure what the norm is in Dubai

Is it standard to be offered relocation allowance, housing benefits etc or is this only if you work for a massive company?

Thanks
 
#6 ·
Seriously I cannot think why anyone who has trained for the number of years you have would even consider an offer made by an organization which cannot even construct an offer letter in a format that can be clearly understood, let alone cannot spell or construct a sentence properly. Would you let them near YOUR teeth?
 
#7 ·
I do not think "bad English" a good excuse to drop an offer. Back 40 years ago who could possibly speak good English in this country ? And even though people came, strived....and are still coming

Why some of you have the idea that you are living UK ? you are not. Grab some flyers and you see some mistakes...grab some expat forum posts and you will see some mistakes....grab some of myposts and will see lots of mistakes :rolleyes:

There are local companies here where people barely speak English but they are not bad companies at all. And they will hire English speaking professionals nonetheless.

As our other buddy said earlier, do some research..inquire the company if you feel that they are not following the labour law. Remind them. Things here in the UAE are not always black & white sometimes.

Cheers!!!
 
#8 ·
Canuck_Sens said:
I do not think "bad English" a good excuse to drop an offer. Back 40 years ago who could possibly speak good English in this country ? And even though people came, strived....and are still coming

Why some of you have the idea that you are living UK ? you are not. Grab some flyers and you see some mistakes...grab some expat forum posts and you will see some mistakes....grab some of myposts and will see lots of mistakes :rolleyes:

There are local companies here where people barely speak English but they are not bad companies at all. And they will hire English speaking professionals nonetheless.

As our other buddy said earlier, do some research..inquire the company if you feel that they are not following the labour law. Remind them. Things here in the UAE are not always black & white sometimes.

Cheers!!!
I certainly don't think I am still living in the UK nor do I expect everything to be written in the "Queen's English" - if there is such a "thing" any more. I also don't think you can compare a communication offering employment with a forum post - they are worlds' apart. What I do think, however, is that the formal document the poster quoted on here is unclear because of the poor English. If this is how they communicate then that, for me, would be a fairly good indication that they would not be a good company to work for. It's interesting though because what your post made me think about was how the interview was conducted? I wonder if the standard was comparable to the offer? I guess that's a moot point anyway because it doesn't look like will be taking the job anyway.

Regardless of everything, most business here is conducted in English and I know many people whose first language is not English who probably write better business communications than many people whose first language is English .
 
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