New labour law rules to provide improvements
The new rules will definitely promote a healthy understanding between the employer and employee (‘New rules to ensure healthy labour market’, Gulf News, September 29). In many cases, the contribution of recruiting agencies is always based on the agencies’ benefits rather than both the employer and agency.
The realisation of the UAE authorities is going to be very fruitful and it will enhance transparency in the recruiting process and, in turn, it will benefit employment relations. In certain cases, the recruiting agencies take away the original passports of the prospective expatriates and it leaves everything to the mercy of the agency. The disgruntled workers, after realising the facts, will have no choice but to approach the authorities for redressal. Now that fear is not going to be there.
The contractual transparency to the employees before signing the agreement will build a more consolidated employee-employer relationship.
From Mr M. K. Gunaseelan
Abu Dhabi
60 years young
I very much enjoyed reading the article and the responses from the Minister of Labour in the UAE, Saqr Ghobash. I know many problems that workers have had with visas and false contracts, so I appreciate the in-depth response from the ministry. I cannot work in the UAE now because of my age, and I would have liked the Minister to address this concern. I haven’t had a single sick day since arriving in Dubai in 2007, and I have considerable ability and experience in education, but I cannot get over the employers about age and the cost of a visa. There appears to be a concern that you are over the hill once over 60 years old, but this is an inaccurate assumption. Some of the brightest minds in the world are over 60 and some are running for the presidency of countries. Bill Gates and many others are performing at amazing levels.
From Ms Catherine Blackmore
UAE
Website comment
A relief for many
I saw the new rules that will be applicable from January 1, 2016 and it will bring much relief to employees and those looking to work here. Considering the working environment, living standards and cost of living is becoming very high, I just want to see companies increase the salaries of workers. The basic requirements for living here is around Dh1,850 based on my calculations, for food, accommodations and transportation and many still need to send some money home to families. If it’s considered, I would be very happy.
From Mr Nazeem Mohammad
UAE
Happy with new rules
We hope that every company will be following the new rules. The UAE authorities will surely need to push the companies in the beginning.
From Mr Tahir Nawaz
UAE
Facebook comment
Meeting demands of residents
These are good moves by the Ministry of Labour (MoL) to maintain the demands of the labour market. The employer has no right to send home an employee when they are terminated for some unjustified reasons. They spend money just to find a good job and reasonable salary.
From Mr Christopher Troyo Cuabo
Dubai
Facebook comment
An amazing step!
It is an amazing step if they give the facility to terminate a labour contract to join a new employer if there is mistreatment. If contracts aren’t followed, employees should be allowed to complain or move on.
From Mr Bilal Ahmad
UAE
Facebook comment
Feeling secure
I really enjoyed this article and I would like to appreciate the work of the Ministry of Labour. They are really concerned about the workforce and the laws and, because of this, we are feeling secure in doing our job.
From Mr Aziz Ahmad
UAE
Website comment
Comparatively cheap
The fuel prices being announced are so cheap (‘Ministry cuts petrol prices for October’, Gulf News, September 29)! You should see the fuel prices in New Zealand!
From Ms Hazel Ali Hayek
UAE
Facebook comment
Will residents wait to fuel up?
When the first petrol price was announced at the end of July, the prices went up and people were lining up at the petrol stations before the clock struck midnight, signifying the new month. Now, people will be make huge lines in petrol stations but, this time, it will be after midnight!
From Mr Mohammed Asim Ishaq
UAE
Facebook comment
Blessing in disguise
With reference to children needing to be a certain age to go to school, I just had my son repeat year one because he was just too young to go to year two (‘New pupils must meet age criteria’, Gulf News, September 29). And, the difference it has made in him already is astronomical. I’m so glad I did it.
From Ms Karen Clint Van Heerden
UAE
Facebook comment
Too young
Four years old is still a very young age to go to school. They should be five years old, at least. Do some research into it and you can see that early schooling does not benefit children. In fact, it can have a negative effect on them.
From Mr Isaac Alm
UAE
Facebook comment
Sooner the better
I don’t agree. The sooner the child goes to school, the better.
From Ms Timantti Storda
UAE
Facebook comment
A technicality
This starting academic year, I went to the school for my child’s admission and they told us that they are admitting children who are born before July 31, 2011. But, my child’s birth date is September 14, 2011. They did not give us admission. They said I will have to wait until next year, but next year my child will be over four years old!
From Mr Farhan Akhlaq
Dubai
Facebook comment
Too young to teach
I agree with Mr Isaac Alm that even four years old is too young. I sent my child to school late, and I was happy to see that there were children of her age, too. All parents are sending their children to school late because three years old is still too young for KG1 and it’s more like a nursery playgroup than a school.
From Mr Zubaidah A. R.
UAE
Facebook comment
Demanding syllabus
It is the same here in Kuwait where a child must be three and half years old for KG1, and I think it’s fair. I find that school syllabi in the GCC are quite demanding and starting too young could be too much for the child. So, it’s better not to pressurise children at such an early age. Let them enjoy their childhood.
From Ms Farnaz Desai
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Facebook comment
Keep childhoods
The modern education system can steal the childhood of a child if they are told to start too young. We all become working machines and children become study machines.
From Ms Mathi Uthaya
UAE
Facebook comment
The positive side of things
Tourism will remain and flourish in this beautiful area of Attabad Lake, Pakistan and I strongly believe that the new highway will enhance the local economy (‘Mountain boatmen fear loss of livelihood on remote lake’, Gulf News, September 29). Why does this new highway have to be looked upon so negatively?
The development and the people it will bring will do wonders for the area.
From Mr Naeem Asim
UAE
Facebook comment
Where does it end?
This is with reference to the report that the Indian politician from the state of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, may come under the Election Commission (EC) lens for his remarks about caste during his campaign for his son, Tejaswi Yadav. This is nothing new in Indian politics. Election after election, each and every party pitch for votes is on the basis of caste, creed and religion and every time any leader crosses the line, the EC either overlooks it or gives them a warning and closes the matter. This time, too, it is not going to be different. Until and unless the EC uses an iron fist to rein in such political leaders and ban them from contesting the elections, we will have to bear with such divide and rule methods.
From Mr N. Mahadevan
Mylapore, India
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