Another recession?
Does anyone else feel that rent hike is the cause of artificial inflation and can cause another recession (‘Only one family per residential unit in Abu Dhabi,’ Gulf News, April 14)? The rise in rents would eventually make companies follow one of the following scenarios: In the first scenario, companies could increase the salaries of their employees, which would directly increase the cost of the firm. This means lower profits. It would force companies to increase costs for their customers, who are also facing the same issues. Eventually, due to loss of customer base and the increasing cost of operations, the company would seek financial loans. If the situation continues at the same momentum, it would affect the financial sector and cause another recession. The second scenario is that companies would refuse to increase salaries. This would add pressure on employees’ shoulders. Eventually, employees would look for illegal alternatives, like subletting and sharing utilities, such as telephone and internet, with neighbours. As the situation gets worse, people would default on their personal loans and car loans and an equally large financial market would be affected.
From Mr Mike
Dubai
Website comment
Annual rent hike
Instead of taking off the rent cap, the authorities should have maintained a five per cent annual increase, as the percentage of working class population in UAE is much higher than the percentage of those who can afford to live in a single flat. Removal of the rent cap will increase the number of people sharing apartments in order to sustain their meagre salaries. The new rule aggravates the existing problems and solves nothing.
From Mr Alex Raymo
Dubai
Website comment
Minimum salaries
Subletting rooms should not be banned. Rents have increased very rapidly and most companies do not pay the housing rent for their employees. In such situations, the employees find it difficult to afford private accommodation. Either subletting flats should be allowed, like it is in most Western countries, or it should be made mandatory for all companies to provide accommodation to their employees. The situation gets worse for people who have families here. I wonder how people afford schooling for their children, with such minimum salaries and now the high rents. Authorities should look into the situation before it is too late.
From Mr Abbas
Sharjah
Website comment
Review decision
The authorities must review the availability of affordable accommodation in the city. A person can sponsor his/her family if the salary is Dh5,000 or above, however the actual situation is that even if he/she uses the entire salary for rent, he/she might still not be able to have a private accommodation. Nobody wants to share their house or live in someone’s house, but what should they do? I request the authorities to review their decision of removing the rent cap.
From Mr Sreekanth
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Appreciate what you have
Those who are not happy with the laws in the UAE should either return to their home countries or decide to move to another country. People should count their blessing in this country, as it has sheltered and provided for them and many families. It is a safe, good standard of living for all pay scales. As long as you are a law-abiding person, no harm will come to you in the UAE. Also, it gives you the chance to work hard and improve your standard of living. Stop complaining! I would also like to note that property owners, though some of them are greedy, have the right to make money as it is getting expensive for them too. I don’t mean to ignore people’s issues, as most of them are genuine, but what disappoints me is that people seem to forget the price of living in other countries that have taxes. They love to lash out on the UAE.
From Mr Aziz
Dubai
Website comment
Shorter distances
I think the other major issue is that affordable accommodation is usually very far from people’s workplace. This forces many to travel long hours everyday. Something really needs to be done about the situation.
From Mr A. Mohammad
Dubai
Website comment
Privileges for workers
If you lose control of a car, it does not matter if people are sleeping on the pavement or simply walking, if they are hit, they will be injured (‘Midday nap on the pavements - is it safe?’ Gulf News, April 14). These people work hard all day and they do not have the time or the means to return to their accommodations or take their afternoon break, hence they sleep on the pavements. Concerned authorities need to come up with some privileges for these workers, so that they are allotted some space for their afternoon breaks as they have a hectic daily routine, especially in the summer heat.
From Mr Mosib Leghari
Dubai
Take action
I don’t think they are irresponsible to sleep on the pavements. They just don’t have a choice, as there are no rest areas for them. Authorities should take action against companies that do not provide sufficient facilities to workers.
From Mr Naeem Abbas
Dubai
Facebook comment
Unsafe
They are less fortunate people who earn less than Dh1,000 a month. It is the duty of companies to provide them shelter during their rest hours. This is very unsafe. These people are very hardworking, so their hard work must be rewarded.
From Ms Ashi Malik
Dubai
Facebook comment
(TO GO WITH A PICTURE)
Building blocks of a nation
After I read the report in the newspaper, I came across a similar view. The picture is self-explanatory. Something really needs to be done about the situation of poorly treated construction workers. They are the building blocks of every nation and must be given sufficient facilities. I request authorities to look into this matter.
From Mr Mohammad Tarek
Fujairah
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