I am a woman living in Dubai. A month ago, I visited a shopping mall. After making my purchases and paying for them, I was leaving a store when the alarm at the entrance went off. A security guard called the store manager, who insisted on searching my handbag. When I refused, he wouldn’t let me leave. I asked to speak to the mall manager, who claimed that he could not interfere with security work. I told him to check the security cameras, but he refused. I insisted that searching my bag was illegal. He then asked a female employee to search my bag without my consent. The search revealed that there was no stolen item in my hand bag. I eventually left the shopping mall. Does a shopping mall have the right to search people without court or police permission? What if the alarm went off and they insisted on a body-search? What are my rights in this case as a customer?

The store management’s actions are illegal. They have no right to search people without their consent unless the authorities permit such an action. Therefore, the questioner should file a complaint with the police or Public Prosecution against the store management and the person who searched the questioner. The Public Prosecution may refer the guilty parties to the criminal court. The questioner may also file a case against the store in the civil court to claim compensation.

Salary reduction

My company recently decided to reduce my salary due to financial constraints, according to my manager. It asked me to sign a revised labour contract to this effect and also increased my working hours. If I sign this agreement, I fear that the company will again increase my working hours and reduce my salary in the future. My contract is for a limited period and expires after six months. If I don’t sign the new revised labour contract, my manager said that my services will be terminated.

An employer has no right to oblige the employee to accept a salary reduction, or increase working hours to more than what is mentioned in the labour contract. This is against the UAE labour Law, especially since the questioner’s contract is for a limited period. The employer cannot terminate such a labour contract as long as the employee has not violated the labour law. Termination due to a salary reduction will be considered arbitrary dismissal, which requires providing the questioner with compensation and end-of-service benefits.

Questions answered by advocate Mohammad Ebrahim Al Shaiba of Al Shaiba Advocates and Legal Consultants.