Please can you tell me if I need a labour card? My employer has never mentioned this to me and does not know what it is however my partner has been informed by his work that it is a serious legal requirement. We both have resident visas and emirates ID cards now.  I am only asking the question as we are about to apply for a liquor license at home and they have asked for a copy of the labour card…

Yes you do.  To work legally in the UAE you are required to have a labour card.  Please read this government website for exact details on how to go about the process of getting one.