UAE | Heritage and Culture

Amid the festive mood key workers stay on job

The festive mood is almost infectious as malls, parks and beaches fill up with people celebrating their Eid holidays. For some, however, it is work as usual.

  • By Anjana Sankar, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 00:02 October 1, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • The festive mood is almost infectious as malls, parks and beaches fill up with people celebrating their Eid holidays.
  • Image Credit: Atiq-Ur-Rehman/Gulf News
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Dubai: The festive mood is almost infectious as malls, parks and beaches fill up with people celebrating their Eid holidays. For some, however, it is work as usual.

Members of the police force, those in the medical field, restaurant staff and delivery boys are among those who remain on the job for the greater good. Nearly 30 per cent of respondents surveyed in a Gulf News poll said they would be working during the Eid holidays.

Ahmad Mohammad, a visa distribution agent of Dnata who works at the Dubai International Airport, said that disappointed as he is that he cannot spend the Eid holidays with his family, he understands that his work is very important.

"I have five children and all of them want to go out shopping and have fun for Eid. Since I cannot take them, I have asked them to tag along with other family friends," said Mohammad.

Public service

Linson Varghese, an RTA bus driver said he would rather not sulk about not getting a holiday because his job entailed a form of public service. "People need public transport on holidays too. So how can we not work on these days. Like anybody else, I would also like to go out and have fun but I respect and enjoy my work. And I am used to working on public holidays like this."

Robert Abines, an employee at Haagen Daze Ice Creams, said it was business as usual for him. "It is okay to work on a holiday like this. There was no traffic at all while coming to work from Sharjah in the morning. And we also get paid overtime," he said.

Alice John, a medical nurse who works at Rashid Hospital, said she is used to working on most public holidays. "It is about serving people who are in pain. We do night shifts and work on public holidays. It is all part of the profession. Luckily, my family understands and they do not make it difficult for me," said Alice, a mother of two.

Aneesh E.K., who works as a delivery boy for Eat and Drink Restaurant, said his employer had allowed him a short break well in advance so that he would be on duty for Eid but added as an afterthought: "My roommates are all planning outings to the beach or park. They are going for a movie. I will miss out on all that fun."

 

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