Readers welcome new UAE labour rules

Companies must pay attention

With the introduction of the new labour rules, the Ministry of Labour should now inform every company to follow these laws strictly in the UAE (“New UAE labour rules kick in from January”, Gulf News, December 29). Over the past four years, I have noticed many companies mistreating or behaving rudely with their employees. The salary packages provided to most people is based on their nationality. Why?

Why doesn’t every company just hire employees based on their merit, experience, talent and the reputation of the professional?

From Mr Ahmad Khan

Dubai

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Don’t generalise

Not all companies are the same, Mr Ahmad Khan. I have marketing executives in my company who are paid Dh25,000 and marketing managers who are paid Dh12,000 and they were never chosen based on their nationalities.

From Mr Nedal Ouwer

Dubai

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Salaries next

I salute the UAE government for the implementation of this new labour law. Salary increments for all employees should be the next topic on the agenda. Many thanks to the UAE government.

From Mr Eliab Kuyt

Dubai

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Strike a balance

A healthy labour market ensures true balance between the employer and employee, without any doubts or issues.

From Mr Paterno Jr Cajigal

Dubai

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Positive changes

I request the authorities to now assess all companies, to see how much they are paying to their respective workers. Increasing salaries and reducing an hour from people’s work timings would allow for many positive alterations in the development of Dubai and other emirates. I hope for the best in 2016.

From Mr Arav Mel

Dubai

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Long-term solution

I think this is a good move in the long run, especially for the prosperity of the UAE. The percentage of salary increments should also be justified, and this ruling will help.

From Mr Asim Ur Rehman

UAE

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Glued to the phone

In this smartphone era, it is very common to see every Tom, Dick and Harry holding on to one, and of course, children are no exception. It is wonderful to be in touch with loved ones when one is not at home. But the fact remains that people are talking, messaging or viewing pictures even while crossing the road, which in reality, is extremely dangerous. I know of instances where people have been killed while being on the mobile phone when crossing the road. Needless to say, imagine the dangers it can cause while one is driving. We definitely need to find a solution to this major problem. Can we?

From Ms Mohana Iyer

UAE

Houses go micro

Micro-living is the way forward (“New York may fit more ‘micro’ apartments into housing picture”, Gulf News, December 28). We have been too extravagant and wasteful so far, in our time on Earth, but the fact is that the world is just becoming too small for all of us and if we want to co-exist peacefully, the only way forward is micro-living. I was fascinated by the foldable, multipurpose furniture that is being used in these apartments in New York and at around Dh113,000 a year, I honestly think it is a great deal. I hope we can have some more ingenious interior designing in the UAE as well, where the office-going population can live in decent, affordable micro-houses that are good for the pocket as well as the environment.

From Ms Gulrez Anwar

Doha, Qatar

Too expensive

At $2,560 (Dh9,402) a month, are they calling it affordable housing? They must be joking.

From Mr Mehar Othman Jamil

Pakistan

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Nurture this habit

A recent editorial in Gulf News highlighted various initiatives by the UAE government to promote reading, and I was glad to hear of it. Reading is an excellent habit. It should be encouraged, not only among children of the Middle East, but also across the world. It is sad to know that nowadays, the habit is decreasing, especially among children. The detachment between books and children is a common sight in today’s world. Most children are more interested in video games and movies, rather than books. Youngsters have forgotten that reading brings knowledge and knowledge is empowerment. I have also noticed that children sometimes hide their phones under their books so as to pretend that they are reading, while all the time, they are on their smartphones.

As a book-lover myself, I feel happy that UAE is taking the initiative to remind these youngsters about the benefits of reading. These programs would be very useful in inculcating a passion for books among many young readers. I am proud to be part of this country, which takes bold steps to instil the love of reading among the youth.

From Ms Saamia Mujeeb

Dubai

A country in turmoil

It is a sad and painful fact that Africa is in total turmoil. The past few years have seen many regions in Africa involved in various civil wars. The loss of life is truly staggering. In addition to the deaths in conflict, there have been over 12 million refugees and internally displaced people in the country, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). If this scale of destruction and fighting was in Europe, then analysts would be calling it World War III.

African conflicts are frequently brushed off and dismissed as being chaotic, or worthy of some vague pity or humanitarian concern, but rarely of any in-depth political analysis. No less than 28 sub-Saharan African states have been at war since 1980, according to the international development organisation, ID21.

Political corruption, lack of respect for the rule of law and human rights violations are all common reasons heard for some of the causes of Africa’s problems. Of the 107 African leaders overthrown between 1960 and 2003, two thirds were murdered, jailed or sent into exile. Up to 1979, 59 African leaders were toppled or assassinated. Only three retired peacefully and not one was voted out of office. No incumbent African leader ever lost an election until 1982.

The proliferation of small arms in Africa when the Cold War ended has helped fuel many conflicts. Africa has become an attractive and profitable dumping ground for nations and arms manufacturers eager to get rid of weapons stocks made superfluous by technological developments.

What next for the continent?

From Mr Farouk Araie

Johannesburg, South Africa

Possible bias?

This is in reference to Gulf News’ report that former Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, could head the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) probe panel. Since Jethmalani is the lawyer representing Arvind Kejriwal’s defamation case filed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, how could he lead the DDCA probe panel? It is a known fact that Jethmalani, who is a Rajya Sabha member due to the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is now having some trouble with the party and is critical of their actions. If that is so, it is obvious that his actions will be biased, in order to nail BJP leaders. Hence, I feel that the charges levelled against Jaitley are only to counter the cases filed against his secretary. If Rahul Gandhi is acting like a child, then Kejriwal is now acting like an infant, in the political arena.

From Mr N. Viswanathan

Chennai, India

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