If you are currently working in the UAE, the thought of a second job or a part time job might seem attractive to increase your income and ultimately improve your quality of life here. If this is you right now, you are in luck because the UAE does allow for part time or second jobs, subject to a few processes and terms and conditions. Keep reading this blog to give yourself a brief overview of what you need to know.
Doing it the right way
If you’re going to take up a second form of employment, it is important to do it the right way. You may feel like it would be easy to bypass the red tape and gain a second employment under the table, but we strongly discourage this as the UAE already has the provisions in place for part time employment.
So, how do you do it the right way? You need to get yourself a part time work permit uae. Individuals who are already working full-time for another company and want to take up a second job need to get this permit from the part-time work permit from mohre.
With a one-year validity, this permit gives you the legal right to simultaneously work for more than one entity. In terms of eligibility, as long as you meet the criteria for the job you are applying for, it is doubtful that you would face any issues. There are some fees involved but you would be happy to note that your second employer is responsible for making these payments if they seek to hire you.
Your primary employer’s approval
If you are already employed, go through your current contract and see if there is a clause that prevents you from taking up a second job. If there is, you would need written approval from them that explains to whoever is concerned that they do not have an issue with you taking up a second job.
If you are unable to find a clause like that, or if you are in the UAE on a freelance visa, you wouldn’t need prior approval. However, it’s best if you go through all your contracts once more to make sure that you are in the green.
While doing so, you might come across a non-exclusivity clause. What this means is that you can work for other companies as long as it does not cause conflict in your current engagement.
If a conflict of interest comes up, the primary employer must agree in writing before the employee takes up a secondary job. Otherwise, this could lead to legal disputes or termination.
Clauses like this specify the industries or companies the employee is barred from working with. They might also set time limitations.
How many hours can you take up?
As a part time worker in the UAE, you can work for no more than 30 hours per week, regardless of the number of part time jobs in dubai per hour you have. Employers will also want to know about your other jobs and how many hours you put in, so that they can create a schedule for you that does not go over the 30-hour limit.
In terms of your breaks, any part time employee in the UAE who works for more than five hours straight can take a break of one hour for meals and rest. Despite this, you should know that part time work will call for you to work irregular hours, weekends, and even on holidays depending on what the role calls for.
Contract is key
Even though you are a part time worker, make sure the contract you sign with your second employer contains the following details:
- Salary and wage structure
- Job description and responsibilities
- Working hours
- Duration of employment
If you are working on a project basis or remotely, all of the above may not be present. This shouldn’t be viewed as a red flag because part time contracts vary widely depending on the industry or job role. You might even be interested in remote part time jobs uae, which offer added flexibility.
A snapshot of the benefits
The only benefit that you will receive as a part time worker would be overtime. As per the labor laws in the UAE, if you exceed the number of hours in your contract (provided that it does not cross the overall 30-hour limit) you are entitled to overtime pay.
Do not bank on your part time employer for other benefits such as health insurance, gratuity, end of service benefits, or annual leave.
Benefits to employers
While workers can top up their salary by working elsewhere, the biggest change is for small and medium-sized businesses that maybe don’t want to or can’t afford to employ someone on a full-time contract.
They can get someone in for the hours they need, and that employee can work for someone else to top up their salary. It introduces a lot more flexibility into the market. Also, employers will benefit because they can tap into more of the labor that’s already here, rather than having to recruit from abroad.
Part time work introduces flexibility into the market. It meets the needs of employers from the existing labor market, thus reducing dependence on labor being sourced from outside the country.
The bigger picture
When the UAE decided to allow part time work, it was viewed as a move to professionalize the economy. We’ve seen this in other areas; VAT was part of this, as well as being an exercise to raise money. It was also about making employers and employees accountable.
The government wants data on who’s here, what they’re doing, and how they’re doing it, which is fair enough. It also wants to raise revenue. This is part of a bigger picture of allowing flexibility in the economy while also knowing what’s happening in the economy.
How can SetHub help?
Regardless of whether you are an employee who is looking for more part time work, or if you are an employer who thinks you can benefit from hiring part time workers, SetHub has access to a huge pool of potential candidates and companies, thanks to our years of expertise as the business setup consultant of choice in the UAE. Schedule a call with us now to hear back with some expert advice within one business hour!
