UAE | General

Getting people to fill jobs has become very difficult - recruiter

Workers being poached from construction companies after the recent economic meltdown

  • Staff Report
  • Published: 23:36 October 27, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
  • UAE visa applicants arriving in Kish. Recruiters expect that people will stop coming on tourist visas to search for jobs.
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Dubai: The new visa rules will clean up the market of unprofessionals, say recruiters, but note that getting people to fill jobs has become very difficult recently.

A labour supplier said he is poaching from construction companies in Dubai who do not have any work because of the recent economic meltdown and because of the new visa rules.

"I am ready to pay between Dh2,000 to Dh5,000 for a qualified executive secretary, but it is difficult to get such a person," said Ziyad Al Zuriqi, a recruiter. He said getting people for jobs outside an office such as in the oil and gas sector is getting very difficult.

"The job market has dried up, especially from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan," he said noting that his expenses have gone up as he has to pay more now.

Al Zuriqi said many workers only want to use the recruiters as "a bridge" between jobs. "They earn a few thousands and use that money to go out and come back with a new visa," he said. But he expects that people will stop coming on tourist visas to search for jobs as 30 days is not enough to get a good jobs. "It is expensive," he said.

Osama Abdul Aziz Al Azzeh of Global recruitment services, said workers want double the salary than what was offered a few years ago. "I am willing to pay between Dh850 to Dh900 per month [for certain labourer work] but they are still refusing to come," he said.

The new visa rules that went into effect from July 29 this year was to help clean up the job market of illegal workers. But the exodus of people coming here on tourist visas continues and after 30 days when the visa time expires, they leave for nearby states for extensions.

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