Latest news with #nonpayment
NHK
26-07-2025
- Business
- NHK
At least 19 subcontractors say they are unpaid for Expo pavilion construction
NHK has learned that at least 19 subcontractors that participated in building foreign pavilions at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka are saying they have not been paid for their work. The subcontractors claim the companies that commissioned the work failed to meet the deadline to pay them. NHK found the subcontractors engaged in constructing pavilions for seven countries -- the United States, Angola, Serbia, China, Germany, Malta, and Romania. In some cases, first-tier subcontractors claimed the primary contractors did not pay them. In other cases, the first-tier subcontractors were also unable to pay their second-tier subcontractors, causing a "chain of non-payment." The alleged non-payments range from about 1 million yen to 120 million yen, or about 6,800 dollars to 820,000 dollars, per firm. Some subcontractors said that caused severe problems for their management. Subcontractors say prime contractors cited alleged "breach of contract" and "client dissatisfaction" as reasons for non-payment. The subcontractors also say they were repeatedly told that officials in charge were not in Japan. Multiple companies that commissioned the work told NHK that the allegations are false and there are no outstanding payments. The expo's association, the central government and the Osaka prefectural government are considering launching an investigation into the situation and how to respond. Kusunoki Shigeki, a professor at the University of Tsukuba, said construction works may have been carried out without finalizing contract details amid tight time constraints, due to the effects of rising labor costs. He also said that when the client or prime contractor was an overseas company, gaps in understanding contracts may have occurred, as well as communication difficulties, which could have led to problems. One hundred and fifty-eight countries and regions are taking part in the ongoing expo in western Japan.
The National
14-07-2025
- Business
- The National
‘If I have a police case pending in Dubai, can I fly out from Abu Dhabi?'
Question: I found out that a bank in Dubai has registered a police case against me, although I have not heard anything from the bank yet. I have debts that I cannot pay and do not have the money to make monthly payments. I have missed four months of repayment after I lost my job. I want to leave the country so I do not go to jail and want to know if I can fly from the airport in Abu Dhabi instead of Dubai? RV, Dubai Answer: If a police case for debt is registered against someone, it will show up on immigration department computer systems across the entire country. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are separate emirates but still part of the same country, so any legal cases like this are applicable across all emirates. Non-payment of debt is a federal offence and while there are fewer criminal consequences than in the past, it is still against the law. This means anyone who has a case outstanding for non-payment of debt is likely to be prevented from leaving the country through any point of exit as the case will show up once a passport is scanned. If someone leaves the country, a debt is not written off and the person can sometimes be traced to their home country to repay it through a collection agency. Q: I am thinking about changing jobs but am hesitating as it could be risky. A particular new role looks great, but the company has been operating for only a few months and is in a field that has challenges. As I have a mortgage to pay and a family to support, it is making me hesitate although it could be a great opportunity. I would like to know if I could add something to the contract that I want to have a minimum of, say, two years of employment to get the new venture to a point of better security and only after can they terminate my employment, if need be. This would mean I would have a guaranteed income for two years, so even if my contract was terminated after six months, they would have to pay me for another 18 months. Would this hold up and be enforced by the law for the company to honour if we made such a contract? How do I go about doing it and is there any kind of UAE government body to attest the contract, or a lawyer? TM, Abu Dhabi A: Provided a contract of employment abides by all the minimum requirements of UAE Labour Law, it is possible to include a variety of additional terms on the basis required, so long as this is fully accepted by both parties. I would strongly recommend taking advice from a lawyer who is experienced in this area to ensure the contract is fully binding on both parties and will stand up if challenged. It is very unusual to see terms like this in the UAE, but it could be done if both parties are willing. It would be best if the contract was not only signed by both parties, but also witnessed by a respected third party, such as a lawyer in their professional capacity, or the notary public, to ensure there is no degree of coercion from either side. What needs to be borne in mind is that only the version of a contract that is registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (or relevant body if in a free zone) is legally recognised. In addition, if a company closes for financial reasons, TM could still have issues in being paid any dues. Q: I have accepted a role in Saudi Arabia and have been issued an entry visa. However, the start date needs to be postponed by two months for multiple reasons, mainly due to my family issues. By the time of the new start date, the entry/employment visa will have expired. Is it easy to apply for an extension? PJ, USA A: The validity of an employment entry visa for Saudi Arabia can vary depending on the type, but it is often valid for a two-month period. Such visas cannot be extended, so PJ has two options. He can either ensure he has entered the country before the expiry date, even if just by a day, or the whole process has to start again. That means the prospective employer will have to reapply. It would be best to have a chat with the employer as they are unlikely to want the additional expense and hassle. PJ could start with some additional goodwill by avoiding that.
