UAE gov't mulls plan to help redundancy victims

VISA BOOST: New proposals could allow expats who have been redundant to stay in the country while they find a new job.

The UAE government is mulling new proposals aimed at making it easier for skilled expats who have been made redundant to stay in the UAE to find a new job.

As increasing numbers of companies in the region let people go amid the global economic crisis, job loss victims currently face having their visas cancelled and being ordered to leave the country within one month.

But new proposals before government officials will mean it is likely that either companies will be told not to cancel the visas of sacked skilled workers or permission will be granted for them to remain in the emirates while looking for work, UAE daily The National reported on Wednesday.

A decision is expected to be made within 7-10 days, sources at the Ministry of Labour told the paper.

In November, Ahmad Saif Belhasa, chairman of the UAE Contractors’ Association and an adviser to the Ministry of Labour, urged companies still in a position to hire to consider recruiting people who were already in the country and had lost their jobs instead of choosing applicants from overseas.

A ministry source said there would be no official comment until a “viable transparent policy” was decided by the departments involved.

“We have plans and a vision in place and we want to encourage opportunity and that will be met,” he said.

Among the high profile redundancies announced recently in the UAE have been developers Nakheel, which cut 500 staff, and Damac Properties which let 200 people in November.

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READERS' COMMENTS

High time to change
Posted by FB, UK on Friday 9 January 2009 at 03:16 UAE time


Good move by the Govt to save the expats losing jobs and also the economy being affected. UAE and GCC countries has long been very unstable destination for employees when it comes to job security as you have to leave anytime. This doesnt bring in the best expats to UAE.

I have some suggestions I hope will be benefit for all expats and the UAE Govt. in general;

Allow expats to work part time or multiple jobs. This will help them to sustain themselves for paying rents, fees if losing jobs or keeping up with the high cost of living.

Let sponsorhip system be abolished, as for me it looks like modern slavery the way companies treat thier employees. Even big companies of UAE keep passports of employees. Let Govt issue the visa. Passport should not be held by the employers and this is ridiculous.

Allow small business from home, flexible start up's without sponsorship conditons.

Allow parents to sponsor thier children who are above 18 year old. This is the youthful generation and has lots of ideas. They also bring in lots of creative culture which UAE desperately lacks other than the whole buying of musuems! which is ridiculous. Tourism is not only about come and do shopping or the fake crowds at the pop shows ( all high paid expats, dont know anything about the music or what the show is all about )

Also, lets be fair on the Govt. if the above flexibility is offered by the Govt. they can easily justify some sort of tax on personnel income. They can spare corporate tax for bringing in business. I know this can be controversial but come on, it should be win win situation for both expats and Govt. to look after health, education, benefits and create more reserves for development.

Spare a small part of desert for affordable housing for the middle class.

Think About It
Posted by Rainigade, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 8 January 2009 at 15:49 UAE time

Yes yes... its all very laudable, commendable, etc etc.

But think about it? Who is gonna fill up all those luxury apartments coming up at the moment (I'm not talking about off-plan, not yet dug projects)?

Remember that the number of vacant and READY apartments are being staggered onto the market so as to keep rents steady. This is exactly why RERA are publishing a minimum too.

If the expats (skilled of course) are gone - what happens to the already shaky real estate sector of Dubai?

It's all about the money after all, indeed! Not that I'm complaining of course. Otherwise, Mounir would remind me of the airports, as Paul says.

Nationalization
Posted by Ali, Dubai on Thursday 8 January 2009 at 13:12 UAE time


Even if we locals storm into the private sector we wouldn't fill quarter the available positions.

It is not the feasibility of the Nationalization program, but the total number of locals. After all, the total population of UAE nationals make 8.9million.

Ha!
Posted by Doug, Dubai on Thursday 8 January 2009 at 12:47 UAE time

Don't you believe it. Even if they did introduce it, they'll only do it for expats who hold ID cards or something similarly ludicrous.

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