Ask Us, and We Answer With Our Experience: Can I Recover Unpaid Wages…

Q: I’m a North-American resident, and I worked remotely for a company based in the UAE. They stopped paying salaries shortly after onboarding and made us sign an agreement delaying payment. I worked three months without pay and now they’re not responding. Is there any hope of recovering my wages without an expensive international lawsuit?

A: Absolutely. Here’s how we helped a client in your situation recover AED 45,000 without setting foot in court.

Client Snapshot

Our client, a skilled IT professional living in Germany, was hired remotely by a UAE-based tech start-up. The company was new—just 15 employees strong—and unfortunately, struggling financially from the onset.

Shortly after onboarding, the employer asked all new hires to sign an “acknowledgement” waiving salary for the first three months. 

The official line? “Performance evaluation period.” The reality? They couldn’t make payroll.

Despite recognizing the unfairness, most employees—including our client—felt compelled to sign, given the job market and financial stress.

The Legal Roadblock

After three months of unpaid work and no signs of repayment, our client came to us. But taking the case to court across borders wasn’t financially viable. Litigation would be expensive, time-consuming, and uncertain.

Our Strategy: Mediation to the Rescue

We recommended Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)—specifically Mediation—as the smarter, faster, and more cost-effective path.

Here’s how we framed the case:

• The waiver was signed under pressure and lacked genuine consent.
• Fair pay for work done is a non-negotiable legal and ethical standard.
• The start-up faced exposure if word got out or if enforcement action escalated internationally.

The Result

After several structured mediation sessions, the employer agreed to settle. Our client received AED 45,000, equivalent to the unpaid salary, as a lump-sum compensation. The agreement was legally binding and signed by both parties.

If you’re working remotely for a foreign employer and face non-payment, you don’t always need to sue. Mediation can work—even across borders. We’re here to guide you through it.

Got a similar issue? Ask us. We’ll answer.