Raise salaries
First of all, construction companies should increase salaries, as many construction companies pay low salaries to their labourers (“500,000 manpower gap seen in construction and real estate sector”, Gulf News, April 20). Some risk their lives and when they get injured, the companies sometimes don’t take good care of them. Instead they will terminate their employment contract, which is not fair. So, salaries should be increased, as they earn Dh800, which may go up to Dh900 including overtime. And at the end of it, the person is dead tired but he has to work just to shelter his family back home.
From Mr Amir Alphamale
Dubai
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Stop agent malpractice
I’ve been working in the construction sector for quite a long time in UAE. One of the major problems the contractors are facing and continue to face is getting skilled workers as the wages offered by the companies have not increased based on the increase in cost of living. Furthermore the agents in their home countries demand money from the poor workers to get them a job in the UAE. Once they pay the money, they are compelled to work for two to three years to get their money back, even if they are not happy. I request the authorities to stop agents from collecting money from workers, and help attract more skilled workers.
From Mr Burhanuddin
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
An example of love
This is such a true and deep love story that even souls departed a few hours from each other (‘Ohio couple married 70 years die 15 hours apart,’ Gulf News, April 21). It is a classical example. It is a road map particularly for the couple nowadays who hardly try to bear each other, even if they do its usually conditional. Nothing is as priceless and as genuine as true love, as it never fades away.
From Mr Saqib
Dubai
Website comment
Another love story
Yes, a similar case happened in our family. My mother’s maternal aunt died a day after her husband passed away. She was found dead on the rocking chair that her husband used to sit on daily with his coat wrapped around her. They were married very young and died after 60 years of marriage.
From Ms Christina Scurville
UAE
Facebook comment
Byzantine power
Very interesting article (‘When Islam shone its light on Europe,’ Gulf News, April 18). One point that I would like to correct is that all Europe was not in darkness. The Byzantine Empire (founded 330 AD) was then and for a one thousand and one hundred years the largest cultural center of Europe and arguably the western hemisphere. The Byzantines performed at a scale compared to the Roman empire and had global impact much larger, as almost all renowned historians would agree than the Andalucia region. We cannot neglect such a large entity
From Mr Ioannis
Dubai
Website comment
A lost history
It was a very nice article, in fact a refresher of the lost history of Muslims. We need further writings and articles to expound the plight of the exterminated Muslims from Spain. As it is not easy to procure the ancient history books by Western scholars and writers, such articles definitely enhance knowledge.
From Mr Mohammad Asim
Islamabad, Pakistan
Lesson from the past
There is space for all religions to practice and flourish in this current world. No one must ever dream to dominate the other. Whatever happened in the past are lessons for us to learn.
From Ms Mariakutty
Dubai
Website comment
Very hard to save!
It is interesting to know how the article concluded that parents are not interested in saving for their children (‘Majority of UAE residents do not save enough for children’s education,’ Gulf News, April 18). I find it to be rather of a generalisation. The writer should have considered the rising cost of rent and other expenses here, especially when there is not much rise in salaries and perks. However, most parents focus on their child’s future and would not want to compromise. If you analyse what causes the most stress or worry for a parent with teenage children, the answer would be how they are going to manage the college fees.
From Mr Morris
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Prevention is the best cure
There is an old saying, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ As of now, there is no cure for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers), so if we want to reduce the number of cases, it should start within ourselves (“12 new Mers cases in Abu Dhabi”, Gulf News, April 20). Boost your immune system by practicing a healthy lifestyle. You need to eat right, avoid vices such as smoking and alcohol, get enough sleep, protect others by washing your hands, and cover you mouth when you sneeze. Mers is all about prevention. You will never know if the person sitting beside you in the bus is a carrier or not, so you must be cautious and protect yourself.
From Mr Chris
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
More information
Mers cases have been spreading in Saudi Arabia before they appeared here in the UAE. If the trend is anything to go by, we need to be better informed about how exactly the situation is panning out in Saudi Arabia.
From Mr Mohammad Yasin
Dubai
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