Do I need to pay my employer back, and will I get fired?
Hope everyone’s staying safe. I’ll try to keep this short.
I’m based in London and have been working remotely for a Dubai-based company for the past year.
I asked my employer to sponsor an employment visa, as I’ve been thinking of relocating to Dubai for a while now. So my employer arranged a work permit at his own expense, then I signed both the MOHRE job offer and two-year employment contract. The work permit gave me 2 months to enter UAE.
My dilemma now is that the 2-month period is almost up by the end of this month. Due to unforeseen circumstances, however, I am unable to relocate anymore. I cannot travel for at least the next 6 to 9 months. I would still like to continue working in my current position, but I feel extremely guilty and need to inform my employer about the situation.
If my employer asks me to reimburse him for the expenses he incurred for the work permit, would he be legally allowed to do so? And could he terminate the employment offer or dismiss me because I am unable to relocate within the required timeframe?
I apologise for my ignorance, and would appreciate any advice. My sincerest thanks in advance.