UAE pensions
From A UAE National, Dubai.
The UAE Government has issued a law putting a pension and social security plan into effect. It obligates all companies recruiting UAE nationals to join the scheme in which the employer contributes 12.5 per cent of the basic salary, the employee five per cent and the Government, two and a half per cent. This totals 20 per cent of the basic salary of the employee and gives people like me peace of mind that after working for 15-20 years we can retire with a good secure pension from the Government.
However some companies chose not to comply with the law and introduced a scheme they claim to be better for employees. Simply put, after working 15-20 years we would secure no more than three years salary. Yet Government organisations and private firms which follow the Government scheme, their employees will have secured a steady pension for retirement.
All private companies employing UAE nationals should adhere to the Government decree as it will encourage more UAE nationals to join private firms.
* Name withheld by request.
Animal care
From Ms J. Samian, Muscat, Oman.
Your Special Report "Horror of dogfights in the UAE" (Gulf News, November 4) clearly depicts the cruelty some people are capable of inflicting.
In Malaysia, where I come from, there is the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) which deals with such situations. Apart from caring for mistreated and stray animals, it provides a hot-line where complaints about mistreatment of animals can be made and acted upon. The SPCA also acts as a pressure group on lawmakers to enforce stricter penalties on those who mistreat animals.
Animal mistreatment is often inculcated at a tender age when parents and educators can play a vital role. A more proactive approach is for schools to teach the virtues of kindness to living creatures. Public awareness needs to be raised on the shame of activities such as dog fighting.
Eye-opener
From Mrs. N. Al-Maskary, Abu Dhabi.
I applaud Gulf News for exposing the practice of dog fighting in the UAE. Animal lovers worldwide will be repulsed by the article. Hopefully the UAE authorities will quickly set about putting a stop to this abhorrent "sport".
The need for tough penalties against all forms of animal abuse in homes, on the streets or in pet shops has never been greater. With your Special Report it is now impossible to turn a blind eye and ignore the atrocities.
Not a sport
From Mr. L. Menon, Dubai.
I have seldom been more horrified than by your Special Report on dog fights. It is not a sport. It is a revolting exhibition of mediaeval torture performed on one of the world's most innocent, defenceless and loving species. Thousands of years ago, we took dogs out of their natural habitat and made them dependent upon us. We took them into our homes to guard our property. We demanded their subservience. And they responded by placing their lives in our care and giving us their total loyalty.
What kind of people deliberately maim and mutilate and administer aggression inducing drugs to these magnificent animals? What kind of people derive pleasure from seeing two animals tear each other apart? What kind of veterinarian is a willing participant in this horror?
Look after them
From Ms D. Petty, Dubai.
A real effort has to be made by everyone to stop dog fights. Two simple things dog owners can do is to ensure they know where their own dogs are every minute of the day and not let them wander on there own. And to stop advertising pets on notice boards in shops and supermarkets where many dogs are taken under false pretences, promised a caring new home, but are taken for dog fighting.
This is appalling as caring owners try to do the right thing by re-homing their pets, unaware dog fighting exists. Unless the new owners are known to them, they really do not know where their pets are going.
Advertising of animals should only be allowed in veterinary practices, at least until the fighting is stopped. The police should also crack down on the organisers and dog owners involved in the "sport". Stopping the import of any fighting breeds will also be a step in the right direction together with a ban on dogs from the countries mentioned in your report.
Not as fact
From Mr. L.A. Khan, Press Attache, Pakistan Embassy, Abu Dhabi.
I refer to the news item "Foreign loan default option under study" (Gulf News, November 2). The item is speculative and not based on facts. The suggestion that the Pakistan government is considering defaulting on IMF and other donor agency loans is complete rubbish. No such action is being contemplated.
In fact various decisions to reduce the fiscal deficit were taken in the meeting of the Federal Cabinet chaired by the Chief Executive on November 1. These measures include speedy privatisation of public sector organisations, efforts to increase exports and reduce unnecessary imports.
Due to resource constraints previous governments were forced to rely on heavy external assistance and domestic borrowing. The present government is convinced a continuation of this trend will retard Pakistan's growth prospects and omit chances of emerging as a self-reliant nation. Which is why it has embarked upon a tax survey and registration exercise with the purpose of raising revenues by broadening the tax base rather than increasing tax rates.
The government's campaign for recovery of defaulted loans has been very successful with the public-sector banks being able to recover substantial amounts.
Incognito
From Mr. J. Chase, Abu Dhabi.
When tailed by a police car, any driver will drive like the most obedient student of the most orthodox driving school.
Caltex RoadStar campaign was the craze on the lane lately. The game starts when a Volvo and a police patrol car pin points a vehicle and initiate a chase. The idea is to check whether the driver is violating any traffic regulation or not. If the driver proves clean they are stopped and given a cash reward and certified a RoadStar.
Sounds good, but the rules need to be slightly altered. They should not use a police patrol car for the endeavour and the police should be in plain clothes. This will not alarm drivers being tailed, who will resume their natural driving. A driver thus selected can be termed a true RoadStar.
When the players get smart, the officials should get smarter.
Test dates
From Ms A. Zafar, Abu Dhabi
Generally in most European countries and America fees are charged for a driving test. Anyone can take a test when they feel confident about doing so. This decreases the load on examiners and the department. Why is no fee being charged in the UAE?
The dates given for driving tests in Abu Dhabi are disappointing for the hopeful drivers. There is a gap of more than three months between tests. Moreover the dates are given randomly to different candidates. There is no way you make an earlier appointment other than what has been given you. So it takes years to obtain a driving licence.
The authorities should revise their test strategy.
A precedent
From Ms L.T.Lobo, Sharjah.
I refer to the news item "Expats offer to raise ransom money" (Gulf News, November 5). Common Kannadigas should know they are funding Veerappan and not obtaining the release of Rajkum
