A new federal law goes into effect in the United Arab Emirates tomorrow that, among other things, grants new rights to workers suffering from mental ill-health.

First announced last December, the new legislation strengthens a 1981 law that contained no provisions regarding mental health in the workplace.

Most notably, the new law prevents employers from terminating or imposing restrictions on the work of an employee due to a “psychiatric disorder”, unless that decision is based on a report given to them by a specialised medical committee.