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One of the booming markets in the Middle East, doing business here in Dubai is very attractive as the tax free options and the legal formalities are not embroiled in extensive red tapism found in other countries. Economic diversification in Dubai is being actively pursued with the next five years being slotted for establishing environmentally safe, high technology and capital intensive industries manufacturing high value products.
With the new ventures comes the need for safer and protected work environments. Establishments are made up of people who serve purposes in its day to day affairs. These individuals need to be protected from inequalities in income and opportunities and significant and persistent forms of workplace discrimination. The purpose of this website is to educate, enable and provide understanding to all people employed in Dubai. We also want to help people live a better life.
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DUBAI - The Ministry of Labour (MoL) will soon issue an order banning arbitrary sacking of UAE nationals by private companies, a senior official of the ministry told Khaleej Times on Monday.
Humaid bin Demas, Acting Director of the ministry, said the order is in response to reports that some firms are dismissing Emiratis from service citing global financial meltdown.
He, however, did not specify when the order would be issued.
Bin Demas urged all Emiratis, who are arbitrarily dismissed from service, to lodge complaints with the MoL.
The order would protect jobs of UAE nationals in the private sector.
“At the same time, it does not mean that the UAE nationals should relax and take it easy and stop being productive. Dismissal of every employee should be justified,” the official said.
Emiratis working in both private and public sectors hailed the proposed ban on arbitrary sacking of nationals by private firms. Minister of Labour Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash had earlier said the ministry would soon announce an order that would include a mechanism and special procedures to curb rampant sacking of Emirati employees. The dismissals were most often made on the pretext of the global financial meltdown.
Jassem bin Al Moussabeh, a staff member at the Registration Section in Dubai Courts, said the proposed order is timely. Financial Crisis
“Many private companies are taking advantage of the financial crisis to dispense of Emirati employees. We are grateful to the Labour Minister and the National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) for not sparing any efforts to help us stand on our feet in the labour market,” Al Moussabeh said.
“A few years back, we (Emiratis) were encouraged to accept jobs in the private sector. How can someone be sure that these jobs would be secured? Private sector companies first to let go of Emiratis when they want to retrench people,” he said.
Abdulah Al Shuwaikh, Director of the Public Relations Department in the Sharjah Municipality, praised the “relentless” efforts of the Ministry of Labour to safeguard the rights of UAE nationals.
“The announcement about such a decision does not come as a surprise. We are taken good care of by the government and its institutions.”
Hassan Ahmad, a photographer, expressed similar sentiments and said he believes the government should protect the citizens.
“The Emiratis constitute a very tiny percentage of the manpower in the private sector. We face lots of problems and hurdles when it comes to job opportunities. I think the ministry by taking such a decision is giving us a protective shield in the labour market.”
For Hassan, sacking someone should be the last resort.
“Companies which cut UAE nationals’ jobs arbitrarily should be penalised by depriving them of privileges.”
DUBAI - The Ministry of Labour (MoL) will soon issue an order banning arbitrary sacking of UAE nationals by private companies, a senior official of the ministry told Khaleej Times on Monday.
Humaid bin Demas, Acting Director of the ministry, said the order is in response to reports that some firms are dismissing Emiratis from service citing global financial meltdown.
He, however, did not specify when the order would be issued.
Bin Demas urged all Emiratis, who are arbitrarily dismissed from service, to lodge complaints with the MoL.
The order would protect jobs of UAE nationals in the private sector.
“At the same time, it does not mean that the UAE nationals should relax and take it easy and stop being productive. Dismissal of every employee should be justified,” the official said.
Emiratis working in both private and public sectors hailed the proposed ban on arbitrary sacking of nationals by private firms. Minister of Labour Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash had earlier said the ministry would soon announce an order that would include a mechanism and special procedures to curb rampant sacking of Emirati employees. The dismissals were most often made on the pretext of the global financial meltdown.
Jassem bin Al Moussabeh, a staff member at the Registration Section in Dubai Courts, said the proposed order is timely. Financial Crisis
“Many private companies are taking advantage of the financial crisis to dispense of Emirati employees. We are grateful to the Labour Minister and the National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) for not sparing any efforts to help us stand on our feet in the labour market,” Al Moussabeh said.
“A few years back, we (Emiratis) were encouraged to accept jobs in the private sector. How can someone be sure that these jobs would be secured? Private sector companies first to let go of Emiratis when they want to retrench people,” he said.
Abdulah Al Shuwaikh, Director of the Public Relations Department in the Sharjah Municipality, praised the “relentless” efforts of the Ministry of Labour to safeguard the rights of UAE nationals.
“The announcement about such a decision does not come as a surprise. We are taken good care of by the government and its institutions.”
Hassan Ahmad, a photographer, expressed similar sentiments and said he believes the government should protect the citizens.
“The Emiratis constitute a very tiny percentage of the manpower in the private sector. We face lots of problems and hurdles when it comes to job opportunities. I think the ministry by taking such a decision is giving us a protective shield in the labour market.”
For Hassan, sacking someone should be the last resort.
“Companies which cut UAE nationals’ jobs arbitrarily should be penalised by depriving them of privileges.”
DUBAI/ABU DHABI - Portuguese expats who were once able to convert their national driving licences into UAE licences now have to fly to Saudi Arabia to pick up a letter from their embassy there.
In recent months, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has struck Portugal off a list of approved countries for the purposes of transfer of driving licences.
“A lot of my friends changed their Portuguese driving licences into UAE licences a few months ago,” said Maguel Lucio, a Portuguese national working in Dubai.
“When I tried to do it, they told me that Portugal was no longer on the approved list. When I asked at the head office of the RTA why this was, they told me that it was because of ‘political reasons’.”
A spokesman for the RTA confirmed that Portugal was no longer on the list of approved countries but would not comment on why it had been removed.
Portugal does not have an embassy in the UAE and if nationals wish to convert driving licences into local licences they must first obtain a letter from the nearest embassy in Riyadh, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior said.
“Expatriates should apply with the letter at the nearest traffic department in the emirate they live in,” said the spokesman. In normal circumstances, licence holders from countries not on the approved list must first take 20 lessons and a driving test.
Portugal is believed to be the only European country whose nationals cannot automatically transfer their driving licences into UAE equivalents. A transfer involves paying a nominal fee and taking a simple eye test.
“The Portuguese embassy or consulate need to approach the Ministry of Interior to formalise the procedure,” said Ali Mohammed Jassim, Director of Licensing at the RTA.
No one from the Portuguese Embassy in Riyadh was willing to comment.
DUBAI/ABU DHABI - Portuguese expats who were once able to convert their national driving licences into UAE licences now have to fly to Saudi Arabia to pick up a letter from their embassy there.
In recent months, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has struck Portugal off a list of approved countries for the purposes of transfer of driving licences.
“A lot of my friends changed their Portuguese driving licences into UAE licences a few months ago,” said Maguel Lucio, a Portuguese national working in Dubai.
“When I tried to do it, they told me that Portugal was no longer on the approved list. When I asked at the head office of the RTA why this was, they told me that it was because of ‘political reasons’.”
A spokesman for the RTA confirmed that Portugal was no longer on the list of approved countries but would not comment on why it had been removed.
Portugal does not have an embassy in the UAE and if nationals wish to convert driving licences into local licences they must first obtain a letter from the nearest embassy in Riyadh, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior said.
“Expatriates should apply with the letter at the nearest traffic department in the emirate they live in,” said the spokesman. In normal circumstances, licence holders from countries not on the approved list must first take 20 lessons and a driving test.
Portugal is believed to be the only European country whose nationals cannot automatically transfer their driving licences into UAE equivalents. A transfer involves paying a nominal fee and taking a simple eye test.
“The Portuguese embassy or consulate need to approach the Ministry of Interior to formalise the procedure,” said Ali Mohammed Jassim, Director of Licensing at the RTA.
No one from the Portuguese Embassy in Riyadh was willing to comment.
Worker Dies in Scaffolding Collapse
- by Dubai Labor
11/02/2009 @ 05:50
SHARJAH - A 39-year-old Indian worker died after falling from the fourth floor of an under-construction building in Al Khan area of Sharjah on Monday evening.
The incident happened as a scaffolding collapsed, causing injuries to some workers standing underneath and killing the Indian, who worked as a foreman, on the spot.
According to the police, the Sharjah-based construction company had not provided enough safety equipment to workers, who were without helmets and safety belts when the scaffolding collapsed.
The body of the dead worker was shifted to forensic laboratory while the injured workers were rushed to Al Kuwaiti Hospital.
SHARJAH - A 39-year-old Indian worker died after falling from the fourth floor of an under-construction building in Al Khan area of Sharjah on Monday evening.
The incident happened as a scaffolding collapsed, causing injuries to some workers standing underneath and killing the Indian, who worked as a foreman, on the spot.
According to the police, the Sharjah-based construction company had not provided enough safety equipment to workers, who were without helmets and safety belts when the scaffolding collapsed.
The body of the dead worker was shifted to forensic laboratory while the injured workers were rushed to Al Kuwaiti Hospital.
Two Maids Jump from Third Floor Flat to Avoid Being Raped
- by Dubai Labor
10/02/2009 @ 04:39
SHARJAH – In a desperate bid to escape an alleged attack and rape attempt, two women jumped out of their third floor flat in Al Yarmouk area near Al Rayan hotel in the emirate on Sunday evening, police said.
The Bangladeshi women, reportedly working as part-time housemaids, are currently fighting for their lives in the Intensive Care Unit of Al Kuwaiti Hospital. They have suffered fractures in various parts of their bodies.
According to an eyewitness from Bangladesh, the women were having a loud argument with some men who visited them that night.
“From their screaming I could understand they were trying to rape them. In five minutes I saw the women jumping out of the building and the men running away,” said the eyewitness.
According to the police, the Bangladeshi women, aged 32 and 35, reportedly absconders, were living in a two-bedroom flat in Dana building, a four-storey apartment in Al Yarmook area.
A man who called the police, identified as Wadood, who was subletting the apartment to tenants, is in police custody and is being questioned.
The police are investigating the case and are waiting for the women to recover from their injuries.
SHARJAH – In a desperate bid to escape an alleged attack and rape attempt, two women jumped out of their third floor flat in Al Yarmouk area near Al Rayan hotel in the emirate on Sunday evening, police said.
The Bangladeshi women, reportedly working as part-time housemaids, are currently fighting for their lives in the Intensive Care Unit of Al Kuwaiti Hospital. They have suffered fractures in various parts of their bodies.
According to an eyewitness from Bangladesh, the women were having a loud argument with some men who visited them that night.
“From their screaming I could understand they were trying to rape them. In five minutes I saw the women jumping out of the building and the men running away,” said the eyewitness.
According to the police, the Bangladeshi women, aged 32 and 35, reportedly absconders, were living in a two-bedroom flat in Dana building, a four-storey apartment in Al Yarmook area.
A man who called the police, identified as Wadood, who was subletting the apartment to tenants, is in police custody and is being questioned.
The police are investigating the case and are waiting for the women to recover from their injuries.
Firm Agrees to Pay Dues after Filipinos Complain to MoL
- by Dubai Labor
09/02/2009 @ 05:37
DUBAI - Six of the 37 Filipino electricians, plumbers and mechanics, who have complained against their company in Jebel Ali in the Ministry of Labour, received their dues on Sunday following an amicable settlement.
The six, who were among 400 employees of Ben Belaila Arma Electropanc, withdrew their complaints from the ministry after the management agreed to pay the salaries for December and January and overtime dues, and give them annual leave.
“We first filed our complaints when the firm failed to pay our salaries for October and November.
It settled them later. After a hearing in the complaints at the ministry on January 8, our employer agreed to give us our salaries for December and January and other benefits, so we withdrew our cases,” Arnold Samaniego, 45, electrician, said. He told Khaleej Times that the hearing in the complaints of the second and third batches of workers, totalling 31, will be held at the ministry in the coming says.
“Before we filed our complaints, we had no off days and we were required to work ten hours daily without overtime pay.” The rest of the workers are from Pakistan, Turkey, Bangladesh and India, but they have not filed any complaints, Samaniego said.
“Only the Filipinos and some Turkish lodged complaints with the ministry. The Turkish workers have already left Dubai.” Alberto Timbol, a 50-year-old mechanic, who joined the third batch of complainants, told Khaleej Times that his group is waiting for the hearing. “According to our contract, we are supposed to receive a monthly food allowance of Dh360. However, the company is not providing it.
A catering company is bringing the food, which we are forced to eat whether we like the taste or not,” he added. He said his group is expecting a good result, and added the Mobile Re-integration Task Force from Manila is helping them directly here.
DUBAI - Six of the 37 Filipino electricians, plumbers and mechanics, who have complained against their company in Jebel Ali in the Ministry of Labour, received their dues on Sunday following an amicable settlement.
The six, who were among 400 employees of Ben Belaila Arma Electropanc, withdrew their complaints from the ministry after the management agreed to pay the salaries for December and January and overtime dues, and give them annual leave.
“We first filed our complaints when the firm failed to pay our salaries for October and November.
It settled them later. After a hearing in the complaints at the ministry on January 8, our employer agreed to give us our salaries for December and January and other benefits, so we withdrew our cases,” Arnold Samaniego, 45, electrician, said. He told Khaleej Times that the hearing in the complaints of the second and third batches of workers, totalling 31, will be held at the ministry in the coming says.
“Before we filed our complaints, we had no off days and we were required to work ten hours daily without overtime pay.” The rest of the workers are from Pakistan, Turkey, Bangladesh and India, but they have not filed any complaints, Samaniego said.
“Only the Filipinos and some Turkish lodged complaints with the ministry. The Turkish workers have already left Dubai.” Alberto Timbol, a 50-year-old mechanic, who joined the third batch of complainants, told Khaleej Times that his group is waiting for the hearing. “According to our contract, we are supposed to receive a monthly food allowance of Dh360. However, the company is not providing it.
A catering company is bringing the food, which we are forced to eat whether we like the taste or not,” he added. He said his group is expecting a good result, and added the Mobile Re-integration Task Force from Manila is helping them directly here.
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