Can my employer deduct money from my salary for damage or losses I caused at work?

Your employer cannot simply take money from your wages because of damage or a loss at work. Under the UAE Labour Law, deductions to recover the cost of damage caused by an employee are only allowed within defined limits and through a proper process — typically the loss must be attributable to you, and there are restrictions on how the amount is determined and how much can be taken from your wage at a time so you are not left without income. In many situations your written agreement or a formal determination of responsibility is required, and you generally have the right to contest the deduction. An employer cannot use deductions as an open-ended penalty or take a large lump sum from a single paycheck without following the rules. If money has been deducted for alleged damage without a fair process, keep your contract, payslips, and any related correspondence, and raise it with MOHRE. To challenge an unfair damage deduction, you can compare verified UAE employment lawyers on LEXAI.