Oman raises wage for unskilled workers

MUSCAT — Oman has raised the minimum wage for non-skilled nationals working in the private sector to RO140 from RO120 a month, including allowances. A statement issued by Minister of Manpower Juma bin Ali Al Juma said the new regulations would come into force by March.

Juma said the hike in salary would encourage Omanis to stick to their jobs without frequent changes. It would also increase their purchasing power, he added. Earlier this month, the government had raised salaries of all its civil employees by a flat 15 per cent.

Source : KhaleejTimes

77% of employees want to change jobs for better pay

By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter

Dubai: Around 77 per cent of the employees in Dubai are not satisfied with their jobs and want to change for better wages, according to a survey conducted by Dubai Statistics Centre. Some 8.5 per cent of employees are looking for jobs suitable to their education and experience while 2.4 per cent want change for better working environment and 2.5 per cent for less tiring work.

The survey was done taking random class samples of 8,130 families representing four per cent of total families in all the communities of Dubai. The survey showed that the average time taken to reach the workplace within Dubai is 46 minutes one way and the average of amount spent to travel to work is Dh12.60 one way. Only 18.8 per cent get medical cover paid by their companies while 81.2 per cent do not have any health insurance.

Source : http://archive.gulfnews.com/nation/Employment/10092677.html

UAE : New labour law on MoL web site soon

ABU DHBAI
By Ahmed Abdul Aziz - Khaleej Times26 December 2006

The Ministry of Labour (MoL) will soon have the new labour law on its web site, said Qaseem Jameel, Head of the Inspection Department at the ministry.

The decision comes following the recent finding of the Inspection Department at the MoL, that nearly 90 per cent of the companies and workers in the country do not have any knowledge about the labour laws, and therefore, their legal rights and obligations.As per the new directives, firms will be fined if they do not have a copy of the labour law.

Increase in salary reduces demand for Filipina maids

DUBAI — Employers have started to shy away from hiring Filipina housemaids, thanks to the recent salary hike of $400 (around Dh1,470) imposed by the Philippine government, industry sources confirmed.

UAE-based recruitment agencies, whom Khaleej Times interviewed, said their partners in other Middle East countries had disclosed that Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and even Jordan, had reportedly stopped receiving placement orders for Filipina helpers after the new salary scheme was announced.

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Leave country as certified workers, Filipinos advised

By Criselda E. Diala
25 November 2006

DUBAI - The Philippines has been keen on preserving its stronghold in the international labour market but Filipinos are highly encouraged to leave the country as documented overseas workers, says the new Philippine labour attache for Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Virginia Calvez, who recently assumed the post as Philippine labour attache, emphasised during the Philippine community's monthly meeting recently that Filipinos eyeing jobs abroad have to go through the legal procedures. The UAE, particularly Dubai, has recently caught the attention of many job-seeking Filipinos despite the fact that working here on visit visa is illegal unless the tourists' visa can eventually be converted into employment.

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One-year ban for failing to report disputes

Dubai: A worker who terminates his labour contract for a valid reason must notify the Ministry of Labour within three months or he will be banned for a year, according to a new rule. If the worker does not inform the ministry he will be violating the law even though the work permit has not expired, the ministerial decision issued by Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi , Minister of Labour, on Wednesday stipulates.

Humaid Bin Deemas, assistant undersecretary at the ministry, said the decision that outlines the rules for working in the country has been initiated to encourage workers to voice their concerns to the ministry and help regulate the job market. "The decision was taken to protect workers' right, solve their problems, educate them about their rights and create an opportunity to file their complaints and prevent exploitation," Bin Deemas said.

Expatriates have to notify the ministry if they terminate their labour contract within three months otherwise they will be violating the law even though the work permit has not expired, according the ministerial decision issued by Al Ka'abi on Wednesday.

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Dubai : Women escape from forced life as prostitutes

By Sunita Menon, Gulf News Staff Reporter

Dubai: Two women who were duped into coming to the UAE on the pretext of being offered jobs and then forced into prostitution managed to escape from their "agents" yesterday.

A man who encountered them near the Kuwaiti Roundabout in Sharjah and asking motorists for a ride took them to the Sharjah Indian Association from where they were taken to the Indian consulate's shelter in Dubai.

"We were forced to entertain 23 to 25 men a day. I have three children back home and I came here to work as a cleaner. I have not been paid at all. I am also scared ... what if I have contracted some disease," one of the women told Gulf News."

I have got in touch with the Department of Non-Resident Indian Affairs in Kerala as well as the Indian Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi and gave details about the two women who were brought here on the pretext of being given jobs," said K.A Mathews, president of the Indian Association Sharjah.

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