Mission work permits from January 2

Mission work permits from January 2
By Wafa Issa, Staff Reporter
Last updated in Gulfnews: December 29, 2007, 23:27


Dubai: The Ministry of Labour will start granting short term work permits for six months starting from January 2.

Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Minister of Labour, has issued a new ministerial decision that allows companies in all sectors to apply for mission work permits for their employees who are in probation period or who are in the country for a short term job.

"Implementing the mission work permit will help solve the problem of people working on visit visa and it will give greater flexibility in the relationship between the employer and employee," said Al Ka'abi.

People working on a visit visa are illegal and are thus not protected by the Labour Law. "Contract that protects the worker's right will be issued together with mission work permit and a bank warranty, which is taken for each worker, will be liquidated in case of non payment of salary," said Al Ka'abi.

Brigadier Mohammad Al Merri, Director General of Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department, said the new type of work permit hopes to limit the misuse of visit visas.

"In the next period we expect to reduce the number of visit visas issued ... as companies will bring their workers on the mission work permit," said Al Merri.

Humaid Bin Deemas, assistant undersecretary at the ministry, said the three-year work permits created a dilemma between the employer and employee, which mission work permits can eliminate.

"Mission work permits will give an opportunity to both companies and employees to test each other before making a long term commitment," said Bin Deemas.

No six-month ban will be applied for workers on mission work permit if they decide to discontinue their work during the probation period, as per the new rule.

"Earlier only the employer had the right to terminate a contract during the probation period, but the new rule also allows the worker to discontinue their work during the probation without facing a year's ban," said Bin Deemas.

Mission work permits will be processed electronically and companies will be notified online.

Companies with less than 500 workers can initially get as much as 50 per cent of their total labour force as quota for the mission work permit, while companies with more than 500 workers can get 100 per cent of their total staff as quota.

Newly established companies with no employees will be given five workers as quota after they pay a bank warranty of Dh24,000.

Permit: Breakup of charges

Fees for issuing mission work permit:

Application fee: Dh100

Work Permit for 90 days: Dh500

Renewing the work permit for another additional 90 days: Dh500

Bank warranty for each work permit: Dh3,000 (Companies who have paid the maximum amount for bank warranty will be exempted)

Additional fees:

Interior Ministry to issue mission visa: Dh600

Medical Test: Dh600

Fines imposed in case of delays

If a work permit is not renewed within seven days from the expiry date if the worker is still in duty: Dh500
If a work permit has not been used and not been cancelled within 90 days of the issuing date: Dh500
If a labour card has not been issued after 30 days from the date the worker entered the country: Dh500 for every five days till the worker leaves

Common card for public travel soon

Common card for public travel soon
By Joy Sengupta (Our staff reporter)
Published in Khaleej Times online 26 December 2007

DUBAI — Come June, people travelling in public buses would not have to stand in a queue waiting to pay to the driver in order to get into the bus. The ‘Check in-Check Out’ is arriving.


At present, people enter the bus through the front entrance, pay the money to the driver, get their tickets and then get seated. With the RTA announcing the ‘Unified Automated Card Project’ for all modes of public transport, RTA officials said commuters would soon be able to get into the bus from any of the entrances. Engineer Essa Al Dossari, CEO of the Public Transport Agency, told Khaleej Times that the buses would be equipped with a machine at each entrance and commuters would need to simply waive their plastic cards while boarding and disembarking. The fare will be automatically deducted at the time of disembarking according to the programmed fare table.

“This system is called the Check in-Check out system and would be operational by June next year. Soon we would be having all kinds of public buses like the double decker, articulated types etc. And these buses would be huge ones with more than two doors. These buses are expected to remain full all the time and the driver collecting the tickets after receiving the cash is a long process which could consume a lot of time. Each of the doors would have a machine installed for the commuters.”

“Whenever a commuter enters the bus, he just needs to put his Plastic Card in front of these machines. The machines would automatically scan the card. Then, when the commuter reaches his destination, he again needs to put the card in front of the machine. The machine would in turn calculate the number of kilometres travelled and deduct the fare from the card. We are sure that the Check in-Check out system would be of great help to the commuters as well as the drivers,” he said.

The RTA has already announced the introduction of a Unified Automated Card Project which would cover all modes of transport, including buses, taxis and abras, and parking. The project costing Dh102 million would be completed in phases.

Start New Year with a holiday

Start New Year with a holiday
Published in Gulfnews: December 25, 2007, 23:13

Abu Dhabi: The public and private sectors will get a one-day holiday on Tuesday to mark the New Year, it was announced on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Governmental Sector Development announced in a circular issued yesterday that public sector employees will get holiday for one day to celebrate the start of 2008.

Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Governmental Sector Development, issued the circular.

Circular

According to another circular issued by Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Minister of Labour, private sector establishments will also remain closed for one day on January 1, to observe the new Gregorian year.

Work will resume on Wednesday for both the public and private sectors.

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Christmas spirit alive and well despite increased cost of goods

Christmas spirit alive and well despite increased cost of goods
By Dina El Shamma, Staff Reporter
Last updated in Gulfnews: December 23, 2007, 23:26


Abu Dhabi/Al Ain: Residents on last minute Christmas shopping sprees said they felt the impact of increased prices compared to last year.

Despite the price hikes, the Christmas spirit was very alive as people throng-ed the shopping centres for last-minute gifts and posed for pictures next to Christmas trees and Santa Claus.

Many were scouring shops to find the right Christmas gifts for their loved ones. Helen McClare held her one-year-old grandchild as she posed for pictures in front of a Christmas tree; she had just finished getting her son, grandchild and daughter-in-law Christmas presents. She felt prices were reasonable in the UAE, especially for clothes and baby outfits.

Portuguese pilot Antonio Praca, who was visiting the UAE for the first time, said he was surprised to see the malls festooned with Christmas trees and decorations.

Large selection

"I did not expect to see all these festive decorations in a Muslim country and I am impressed and happy to see this Christmas spirit."

Jonah Pabile from the Philippines thinks prices have gone up this Christmas, but appreciates the large selection of gifts available.

"A couple of years ago, Christmas trees were not put up in local malls and there were hardly any Christmas-related presents to choose from. The UAE has come a long way, even though prices of products are increasing by the day."

A South African who moved with her family to Al Ain three years ago told Gulf News she feels they do not have the luxury of shopping in different malls and shopping centres like others living in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, so they start their Christmas shopping earlier, which also helps to avoid the crowds.

"I normally finish my Christmas shopping by November; having tried to make the most of all the sales as they occur towards the end of the year. This year, however, we finished our Christmas shopping a little later than planned and definitely felt the pinch and saw prices rocketing the closer we got to the festive season," said Monique Holtzhausen,

She said she brought a couple of special traditional Christmas treats from South Africa during a recent trip home because she knew from past experience the selection of festive food is not as wide or as reasonably priced in the UAE.

An employee in a sweet shop located in one of the local malls told Gulf News that one kg of sweets now costs Dh60, at leas Dh10 more than the price last year.

"The prices of transporting these sweets from different countries such as Holland, Turkey, Spain and the UK has gone up, not just during Christmas, but in general. There's a general hike on all products, not just sweets," said Danilo Cuntapay, a Filipino shop assistant.

Briton Jeff Charton feels that compared to last year prices have shot up.

"They say the UAE is a tax-free country, but in reality the prices of products are comparable to tax paying countries. Goods in the UAE are being sold at prices similar to those in the UK. I don't feel any difference."

Schedule: church services

The Marthoma Church, Jebel Ali Christmas Eve mass at 8pm which continues until midnight. More than 2,500 people are expected for the mass. Bishop Joseph Mar Barnabas will celebrate the Holy Communion Mass.

United Christian Church, Jebel Ali Christmas Eve mass at 7.30pm, Christmas Day mass at 10am.

St Michael Church, Sharjah Christmas mass in English today will start at the following timings - 6:30pm, 8:30pm, while the Christmas eve vigil mass will start at 11:30pm.

On Christmas Day masses in English will start at 6:15am, 8am, 9:30am, Tamil and Konkani mass at 10:30am while in Arabic it will be held at 12noon.

At 3pm -Thiru-Malavar and Tagalog mass, 5:30pm English mass, 8:15pm, Malayalam mass and Arabic mass.

St Mary's Church, Dubai Christmas Eve morning holy mass at 6am and 6:45am.

Evening solemn high mass - 12:00 midnight

Christmas Day morning holy mass 5:30am, 7am and 8:30 (English)

10am (English for parents and children). Evening holy mass - 3pm, 4:30pm, 6pm, 7:30pm (English), 9pm (Arabic).

Dubai Orthodox Church Christmas Eve mass at 6:30pm.

Five dead, one hurt in car accident

Five dead, one hurt in car accident
By Preeti Kannan (Our staff reporter)
Posted in Khaleej Times Online 21 December 2007

FUJAIRAH — Four Filipinos and an Egyptian died in a car accident on Wednesday afternoon in Fujairah when their car veered out of control, hit a mountain side and caught fire.

According to police officials, “Three Filipino women and a man, and their Egyptian driver died in the accident on the Masafi-Fujairah highway, which occurred around 12.30pm.

The dead were identified as Omer Farooq Mohammed, 26, Alenita Guilleimo, 36, Anjeline Torres, 25, Christian Umajon, 25, and Maria Allan De Leon, 29.

Another Filipina, Julios De Leon, 37, who was in the ill-fated car was critically injured.
Consul Vicente Bandillo from the Philippines Consulate-General in Dubai, said, “We have reported the accident to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila and they will get in touch with the families of the deceased. Some of the deceased have relatives in the UAE. We are working with the police for the repatriation of the remains. We are also trying to get in touch with the companies where they were employed.”

MoL warns firms against cheating workers
By Ahmed Abdul Aziz (Our staff reporter)
Published in Khaleej Times Online: cember 2007

ABU DHABI – The Ministry of Labour (MoL) has warned companies in the capital against using fraudulent ways for calculating the remuneration of workers such as overtime for working on official holidays, according to a senior official at the MoL.


According to Qaseem Jameel, Deputy Director of the Inspection Department at the MoL, “If an employee works on official holidays like Eid Al Adha and the day payment is Dh100, the firm should pay the worker Dh150, in addition to the overtime,” added Jameel.

Moreover, workers have the right to take compensatory off in lieu of extra work on official holidays, he said, adding that the same rule applied to all the expatriates living in the country as there is no discrimation on religious grounds.

“If the employer or the sponsor doesn’t give a non-Muslim worker his/her dues according to the law, the MoL will impose punishments because the law doesn’t discriminate between Muslims and non-Muslims,” explained Jameel.

For companies that do not comply with the law regarding calculation of overtime and remuneration for working official holidays, Jameel pointed out that workers should inform the MoL Inspection Department and action will be initiated accordingly.

Global Village opens

Global Village opens
By a staff reporter

14 December 2007


DUBAI — Global Village officially opened to the public yesterday. The current edition of Global Village, located in Dubailand, will remain open until March 2008, and is expected to attract some 4.5 million visitors.

With 31 pavilions representing countries from across the world, Global Village has allocated parking space for 16,500 cars, said Abdul Redha Ali bin Redha, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Village.

While the entry fee for visitors will be Dh5, the same as last year’s, the Village will remain open from 4pm to 12 midnight on week days and from 4pm to 1am on weekends.
“Among the new features of this year’s Global Village are a new layout, water canal, additional parking, and easy access to the venue, as Emirates Road has been widened and extra lanes added,” the CEO said. Global Village activities will include the Big Drum, Vertical Concert, Jumper Show, Aquatic Fantasy, Percussion Parade and Fireworks among several others.

Turkey is big bird for festive season

Turkey is big bird for festive season
By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
Published in Gulfnews: December 13, 2007, 23:18

Dubai: Christmas is not far away and families are planning for the traditional roast turkey with cranberry sauce along with the other festive treats such as mince pies, plum pudding, and of course the Christmas cake.

The UAE mainly imported turkey from Saudi Arabia and the US, but with the recent spell of bird flu in Saudi Arabia, poultry imports have been drastically reduced from the neighbouring Gulf state.

"I bought all the turkeys this year from the US because poultry from Saudi Arabia is banned. The prices have certainly gone up, possibly due to a high demand from the market at this time of year, as well as the devaluation of the dollar," says Andy Kurfust, Executive Chef at Renaissance Hotel in Dubai.


The Nation

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Mariam M. Al Serkal/Gulf News
When it comes to Christmas dinner there is no other meal that can capture the spirit more than a turkey.
Turkey is big bird for festive season

By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
Published: December 13, 2007, 23:18

Dubai: Christmas is not far away and families are planning for the traditional roast turkey with cranberry sauce along with the other festive treats such as mince pies, plum pudding, and of course the Christmas cake.

The UAE mainly imported turkey from Saudi Arabia and the US, but with the recent spell of bird flu in Saudi Arabia, poultry imports have been drastically reduced from the neighbouring Gulf state.

"I bought all the turkeys this year from the US because poultry from Saudi Arabia is banned. The prices have certainly gone up, possibly due to a high demand from the market at this time of year, as well as the devaluation of the dollar," says Andy Kurfust, Executive Chef at Renaissance Hotel in Dubai.
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It was earlier reported last month that Saudi Arabia destroyed 216,000 birds following the discovery of bird flu, taking the total number of birds culled to nearly four million.

In 1978, Gulf News published an advert from a shop called Fresh Farm Meats which was selling turkey at Dh7 per pound (Dh15.4 per kilograms). Today, a frozen turkey is sold at Dh8.6 per pound (Dh19 per kilogram), and a fresh turkey is sold at Dh42 per kilogram.

"The traditional way to cook a turkey is to roast it in the oven, accompanied with either onion and sage, or apple and cranberry sauce, depending on your taste. Families have their own secret recipes," said Kurfust.

"The popular way is to buy a take-away roasted turkey in advance and to spend Christmas dinner with loved ones in their homes", he says.

The standard cost for a Christmas dinner at restaurants in Dubai ranges from Dh250 to Dh370.

In the spirit of the festive season, restaurants are offering a variety of turkey sizes for up to 12 people. A small turkey weighing between four to five kilograms is good for four people and costs Dh317, with all the trimmings, according to the chef. A turkey weighing seven kilograms is enough to feed between 10 to 12 people at a cost of Dh370.

"Customers for Christmas dinners are mostly Europeans and Americans, as well as some Asians." Last year there were very few Arab diners, he says.

So what do Arab Christians traditionally eat for Christmas dinners? The tradition of roasting a turkey varies from one family to the next. Two Lebanese women, both from Orthodox Christian backgrounds, shared their experience of how they prepare the special feast in their own ways.

"I always prepare a roasted duck for Christmas dinner, and cook it with rice, minced meat and chestnuts, which take about three hours to prepare," says Raymonda Khoury. "I also make sure that I have plenty of special treats for dessert, such as chocolate cake and special biscuits and cheese," so that when her 20 guests arrive, consisting of family members and extended relatives, there is plenty to pass around.

Christian Chartouni is celebrating Christmas this year with her husband, two daughters and her in-laws. This time around is going to be a special evening as her parents have travelled from Lebanon and will be able to join the rest of the family to celebrate Christmas.

"I am going to make a roast turkey so that my family can have a typical Christmas because that's the way it has always been done. The turkey will be stuffed with rice and minced meat, along with pine kernels, almonds and figs, which is exactly the same way its been done for generations."

Long Eid break spreads cheer all around

Long Eid break spreads cheer all around
Staff Report
Published in Gulfnews: December 11, 2007, 23:25

Dubai: Government and private sector employees said they were very happy that they will be getting five days off for Eid from December 18 to 22.

Residents across the UAE said they were happy that for the first time both sectors are getting an equal number of holidays and that the holiday notice came early this year and that they can now plan for their days off.

Some unfortunate few said they will be working during the holidays, but most companies usually give leave-in-lieu when their staff works on official holidays.

Fatima Eisa, an Iranian student in Abu Dhabi, said she was very excited about the long weekend. "Visiting relatives and family tops the list," she said, followed by eating out, spending more time out in the great weather, bowling and taking her brother out to the park.

Fodil Announ, a French expatriate in Abu Dhabi, said he would love to visit Dubai and try out the slopes in Ski Dubai.

But Ahmad Shahin, an Egyptian salesman, said he was happy as he would be working over Eid. "We will get one day off which will be for shopping of course," he said.



Visiting friends

S. Pricilla Deepthi, an Indian student in Al Ain, said she loves holidays. Her father works for a private firm and the long weekend would give him more time with the family, she said. "We will visit some friends and invite some others home," she said.

Mounir Ahmad, a Pakistani expatriate, was happy that the private sector is getting an equal number of holidays for the first time. He said he would have gone to see his family back home in Pakistan, but Eid is two days later in Pakistan.

"This is an Eid gift," said Fahad Al Rahma, a government employee from Dubai and father of three. He said he plans to take his family to Tehran.

"They want to see snow and I hear the weather there is very pleasant," he said. The holidays will give a chance to spend more time with the family, he said. "I get to meet them at night as I work late," he said. "The long holidays are also a chance for the children to get refreshed, specially after the exams. They will be better prepared for school after this break," he said.

Abdul Rahim, a private sector employee in Dubai, said: "I will make the most out of these holidays and will spend more time with family and relatives, as well as friends because I do not get to meet them often."

Hesham Al Sisi, Managing Director of a Sharjah-based consultancy firm, said: "I am happy that we will be having this many days off because I will have the opportunity to spend time with my daughters while they are off from school. I will be spending the Eid holidays with my brother and his wife, and I am looking forward to having a fun barbeque at Al Mamzar Park," he said.

Nayyar Ansari, Senior Sales Manager at Radisson SAS Resort in Sharjah, said he will take the days off to spend with his family as much as possible. "I will probably have to work on one of my days off because the hotel will be full of visitors during the Eid holidays," he said.

Abdullah Al Shahin, who heads the Ras Al Khaimah Medical District, said such vacations could easily create disturbance to the flow of the work and that will never be accepted. He said that the key factor in deciding on leave application was the total guarantee that there would be no work disturbance at all.

Circular

Al Shahin said that the RAK Medical District has already issued an internal circular banning any leave of staffers that could harm the work flow.

He said many employees have already approached their management for two days leave to spend the Eid Al Adha vacation in their homeland with families.

Sa'ad Al Dahmani, an Iraqi national, said he was extremely happy with the holiday which he will spend with his family, relatives and friends. The good weather in the UAE makes it possible to travel within the UAE, he said.

Bahaa Uddin Jamal Mohammad, a Jordanian operations coordinator in Fujairah, said employees at the private sector await such holidays because they do not often get extended time off. "I think long Eid holidays are great, as long as they do not impact negatively on work. They are like a breath of fresh air and when they come ... they can be a real important time for the family, he said.

Ahmad Mohammad Salama, an Egyptian civil engineer in Fujairah, said: "I think I am going to enjoy this holiday more than most because I just got married recently back home in Egypt, but unfortunately I had a short honeymoon before I was back at work, so for me this long Eid holiday could not have come at a better time."

- With inputs from Aftab Kazmi, Al Ain Bureau Chief, Dina El Shammaa, Rayeesa Absal from Abu Dhabi, Mariam M. Al Serkal, Alia Al Theeb from Dubai, Nasouh Nazzal from RAK, Fuad Ali from Fujairah, Staff Reporters

SUPERVISION
Inspection campaigns

Sharjah Municipality has planned to increase inspection campaigns to monitor markets, especially livestock and food shops, during the Eid Al Adha holiday to ensure the safety of the public.

Atef Abdullah Al Zarouni, Director of the Public Health Department, said a work programme has been prepared to increase inspection campaigns during the holiday, and a team of vets has been set up to supervise work at cattle markets and the safety of slaughtered animals.

He added that sudden inspection campaigns would also take place at fish and vegetable markets and restaurants to ensure they meet health requirements. The municipality will also crack down on illegal butchers who usually slaughter animals at cattle markets, which is against the municipality's regulations.

- WAM

Ban lifting fees

Ban lifting fees
Compiled by Dina Aboul Hosn
Published in Gulfnews: November 23, 2007, 01:05

A reader from Dubai asks: I am currently working with my employer but I want to work for another company once I complete one year of service. The other company asked me if my current one could provide a No Objection Certificate. I consulted our administration personnel who told me they could provide one. Am I safe doing this? What else do I need to consider, to avoid being banned?

The Ministry of Labour has amended the labourers' Visa Transfer Law, which, I believe, are in favour of both - the labourers and the labour market.

The ministry has ceased the previous condition that obligates the labourer to complete one year continuous service for his/her employer before being permitted to transfer his/her visa to another employer. According to the new rule, the Ministry of Labour no longer requires such a condition. So, any labourer who has not completed a year's service for his/her employer may transfer to another employer after obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer to transfer the visa to another employer, provided that the newly imposed fees should be settled.

Such fees are called "the one year non-completion fees" which is calculated at the rate of Dh500 per month. For instance, if the employee continues a period of two months service only then he/she would be obliged to pay a fee of Dh5,000 for 10 months.

Now any labourer, who completes a period of three years service and who could not obtain an NOC, can resign and can approach the Ministry of Labour and the ministry - as per his demand - will cancel the visa and apply a six-month ban. With the new rules and upon completion of three years' service, this ban can be lifted and the employee can transfer to another employer without the need to obtain such NOC from the previous employer, provided that the newly imposed fees should be settled in addition to the visa transfer fees. Such new fees are called 'ban lifting fees'.

Worth saying is that this new law is not applicable in Abu Dhabi but might be in the future. Therefore, the reader as per the new law will not have any problem as long as the company has promised to grant him a n NOC to transfer his visa.

Questions answered by Advocate Mohammad Ebrahim Al Shaiba of Al Bahr Advocates and Legal Consultants

Ask the law queries
Send us questions on legal issues that need clarification. Write to us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com

Now it pays to report on illegals

Now it pays to report on illegals
By Ahmed Abdul Aziz (Our staff reporter)
Published in Khaleej Times 12 December 2007

ABU DHABI — The Ministry of Labour (MoL) is seeking to devise new ways to flush out illegals who are still working in the country by motivating the companies and paying Dh500 as reward to people who inform the MoL about the presence of illegals.


This was stated by Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi, on Monday at a Press conference here. “The system being currently prepared will enable the individuals and firms to inform the ministry about the illegals found working. People who inform the MoL about the illegals will be awarded Dh500,” said Dr Al Kaabi.

The Assistant Under-Secretary in the MoL, Obaid Rashid Al Zahmi, said the ministry will investigate the information it will receive from the public and the firms’ owners. The informants risk punishment in case of false reporting.

The ministry has still not decided about the penalties, he said.

Earlier, Dr Al Kaabi met the newly appointed 71 inspectors who took the oath after joining the MoL inspection team.

He said the number of inspectors will go up to 700 from the present 400 by the end of 2008.

Maid jailed for stealing from her employer

Maid jailed for stealing from her employer
By Bassam Za'za', Staff Reporter
Published in Gulfnews: December 11, 2007, 23:58


Dubai: A Filipina housemaid who claims she took her six-month unpaid salary and denied robbing her employer's money will spend three months in jail, ruled a court on Tuesday.

The Dubai Court of First Instance incriminated the 38-year-old housemaid, Z.N., of theft and said she will be deported after serving her punishment.

The Filipina had denied robbing her employer before a court and told her interrogators earlier that she took the money because of her employer's 'violent treatment'.

The Public Prosecution charged Z.N. with stealing Dh14,300 from her Emirati female employer, H.S.

She pleaded innocent as she told the judge that she wanted back her Dh4,000 which were taken from her purse. "That's my six month unpaid salary," she claimed.

Bad treatment

A 46-year-old Sudanese sergeant at Dubai police who questioned the accused, quoted her saying "I took the money because my employer was treating me violently."

The employer testified: "I discovered that Dh11,000 was missing from my purse which I had left on my bed. I suspected the housemaid and asked my son to report the incident to police. A few days later my second housemaid found Dh14,300 wrapped in a piece of cloth and left above the freezer. When the police confronted the suspect with the money, she claimed that she stole it because her family was in a destitute state."

Records said the accused stole the money from the bedroom of her employer who was sleeping.

Secretary 'stripped' to defer paying loan

Secretary 'stripped' to defer paying loan
By Bassam Za'za', Staff Reporter
Published in Gulfnews: December 11, 2007, 23:58


Dubai: A Filipina secretary who claims she stripped to defer paying Dh24,000 to her two male lenders is standing trial for allowing them to have sex with her.

The 42-year-old secretary, L.D., denied having consensual sex with the two men, 52-year-old Indian marketing manager, S.J., and 55-year-old Portuguese clothes dyer, J.G., and told the Dubai Court of First Instance on Tuesday: "They had forceful sex with me."

The two men have denied having consensual sex with her. The Public Prosecution charged them also with threatening to post her naked pictures on her door and show them to her son and her friends.

Meanwhile, the marketing manager was additionally charged with possessing alcohol.

The Filipina claimed before the public prosecutor: "I borrowed Dh19,000 from the manager and Dh5,000 from J.G. I agreed to return the loan along with 10 per cent interest later, but after they took my son's passport as a guarantee. When they refused to return the passport, I agreed to strip and be pictured nude."

Eid holidays for UAE private sector announced

Eid holidays for UAE private sector announced
Staff Report
Published in Gulfnews: December 11, 2007, 12:32


Dubai: Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Minister of Labour, on Tuesday issued Eid Al Adha holidays for private sector from Tuesday, December 18, to Thursday, December 20.

Private sector employees will get three days of holiday for Eid Al Adha with effect from Arafat Waqfa day, the first and second day of Eid, according to the circular.

Public sector will get five days of holiday, from Tuesday, according to the Minister of Public Sector Development Sultan Al Mansouri. Work resumes on Sunday.

Al Ka'abi issued a ministerial circular congratulating President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates and citizens.

First day of Eid Al Adha on December 19

First day of Eid Al Adha on December 19
Staff Report
Published in Gulfnews: December 10, 2007, 21:58


Riyadh: The first day of Eid Al Adha, the Muslim feast of sacrifice marking the end of annual Haj, will fall on December 19, Saudi Arabia's Supreme Judicial Council announced on Monday.

According to a statement issued by the council, on Monday, December 10 was the first day of Dhu Al Hijja, and hence December 18 (Tuesday) will be Arafat Waqfa Day, and December 19 (Wednesday) will be the first day of Eid Al Adha.

The council, in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, said it had established that Monday marked the start of the month of Dhu Al Hijja of the lunar calendar.

Two men get jail for rape in guise of policemen

Two men get jail for rape in guise of policemen
By Bassam Za'za', Staff Reporter
Published in Gulfnews: December 10, 2007, 23:21


Dubai: Two men who posed as policemen and forced themselves on a Filipina were each sentenced to ten years in prison.

The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the two accused, 21-year-old Emirati student, A.J., and 31-year-old M.E., who was unemployed and had no identification papers to show, of kidnapping, impersonating police personnel and rape.

The Public Prosecution charged the two accused with deceiving the 21-year-old Filipina, E.P., switching off her cellphone, dragging her into a dark alley and repeatedly raping her.

The duo were also charged with assaulting and threatening the woman with a broken bottle and raping her a second time at a construction site.

The victim said in her statement: "The incident occurred at around 5.00am as I was on my way to buy a prepaid phone card. The two accused stopped me and asked for my identification card, claiming that they were from the police department. I produced my card but they asked me to accompany them to the police station for an investigation. One of them snatched my mobile and switched it off. They took me to a dark alley and raped me one after the other."

Identification parade

The defendants had asked her to submit to them, but she fell down as she tried to flee the spot, testified E.P. "They pushed me down and raped me several times."

A second lieutenant at Dubai police said E.P. and her brother-in-law came to the police station to report the incident. Records said the victim identified her attackers during the police identification parade.

Help OFW families cope with strong peso - Roxas

Help OFW families cope with strong peso - Roxas
12/10/2007 | 07:53 PM - GMANews.TV

Stop borrowing in dollars to create a demand for the US currency and, in the process, help families of overseas Filipino workers and exporters cope with the continued strengthening of the peso.

This was the gist of the proposal of Senator Mar Roxas II on Monday for the government to mitigate the impact of the weakening value of the dollar against the Philippine peso.

“Our economy is in danger of stalling if we continue to turn a blind eye to the plight of OFWs and exporters," the senator said, emphasizing that the economy is driven primarily by consumption, which is more than 70% of gross domestic product.

Roxas, who chairs the Senate committee on trade, said the high peso-dollar exchange rate is now constricting the purchasing power of families of OFWs and could dislodge workers in the export and manufacturing sectors.

Instead of borrowing in dollars to amortize the country’s debts, Roxas said borrowings should be in pesos, which could be used to buy the dollars needed for debt amortization. This could prop up demand for dollars and, in effect, strengthen the dollar versus the peso.

“Isang kongkretong hakbang na magagawa ng gobyerno—ng Bangko Sentral o ng Treasury—ay sabihin na lahat ng ating dollar-denominated loans ay hindi nila ire-renew sa pamamagitan ng dolyar. Uutang sila sa piso, at iyon ang iko-convert sa dolyar, at sa ganoon, mas magiging malaki ang demand para sa dolyar, magkakaroon ng mas magandang balanse ang peso-dollar dito sa atin," Roxas explained.

“Right now, even if we are already flooded here by dollars, we continue to borrow in dollars. In effect, we are just shooting ourselves in the foot," he argued.

The Arroyo government is set to borrow P125 billion—or $2.67 billion—from foreign sources to finance the proposed P1.227 trillion budget for 2008.

Of the P125 billion, P87.7 billion—or $1.87 billion—will be used to roll-over outstanding foreign debt. The government had projected that the dollar will be worth from P46 to P48 in 2008.

“Let’s put our money where our mouths are. Our OFWs, exporters, BPO and tourism industries are hurting by P10 less per dollar or 20%. That’s a lot," Roxas said, noting that the peso has strengthened from P51.30 last year to P41.74 this year.

“Sabihin na nating may walong milyong OFW ngayon at ang kabuuang remittance nila ay $12 bilyon, eh ‘di kada pamilya nila dito ay tumatanggap at gumagastos ng $1,500 kada taon," the senator said.

“Kung dati-rati’y P76,500 ang kapalit nito sa piso, P61,500 na lang ito ngayon, bawas na ng P15,000. Pang-matrikula na iyon ng isang anak o pambayad ng kuryente sa isang buong taon," he explained.

With regards the exporters, Roxas estimated that assuming export revenues last year of $47.4 billion are the same this year, exporters would now earn at least P474 million less (P2.4 billion with last year’s exchange rate versus P1.9 billion with the present exchange rate).

Roxas sees the impact of this proposal on inflation would be minuscule compared to the emasculated spending power of Filipinos—and possible loss of jobs—due to the strong peso.

He noted that inflation for the year has so far been averaging at 2.6%, which is at the lower band of the central bank’s target of 2.6% to 3.1%. The target for next year, as assumed in the proposed 2008 national budget, is 3% to 4%.

Roxas pointed out that interest rates of short and long-term government securities have now declined, thus, it is cheaper now for the government to borrow in pesos. He noted that the benchmark 91-day Treasury Bill rate has decreased to 3.67% this November from 7.36% in 2004. The 3-month LIBOR rate has increased to 5.15% in October this year from 1.62% in 2004.

Government’s outstanding foreign debt so far is P1.7 trillion—or $41 billion using the exchange rate last Friday—as of August, according to the latest data available on the Bureau of Treasury website.

Meantime, as a consequence of the strengthening of the peso, OFWs are paying at least P250 more in membership fee to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration because the agency still uses the old exchange rate of P51:$1 in collecting the equivalent of the $25 OWWA dues, which remains at P1, 275.

Lito Soriano, former president of the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc.(PASEI) and president of LBSe-recruitment Solutions Corp., said OFWs are being short-changed by being made to pay P1,275 in OWWA fee instead of paying $25 dollars required from every contract processed by the POEA whether the worker is a new hire, re-hire or balikbayan.

With an average of 3,000 OFWs leaving the country everyday to work abroad, Soriano said OWWA is collecting P750,000 more from OFWs since the value of the peso appreciated.

Soriano appealed to OWWA to take the necessary steps to correct what he described as an imbalance by allowing the OFW to pay the current rate in pesos or dollars if he desires so as to save on his processing fee.

The peso is still bound to appreciate this Christmas with the massive inflow of dollars from OFWs to their dependents and hundreds of thousands OFWs arriving to spend the holidays with their families.

He said the continued appreciation of the pesos against the US dollar has already eroded OFWs income by 20 percent.

He noted that a worker who earns $1,000 monthly (including overtime pay) loses P10,000 monthly with the prevailing exchange rate of less than P42.00 to a dollar.

Recruitment agencies not collecting placement fees are also reeling from the loss of income with their international transactions pegged to the dollar and were forced to increase their rates with their principals.

Some foreign employers have refused to increase their rates and instead have transferred their business to agencies collecting placement fees thus increasing the burden of workers with higher placement fees.

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Child dies within few hours after hospital sends him home

Child dies within few hours after hospital sends him home
By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
Published in Gulfnews: December 09, 2007, 23:20

Dubai: A three-year-old boy who was taken ill after eating a packaged corn snack died within hours of a hospital sending him home, Gulf News has learnt.

Angelo Steven Mendoza started vomiting along with his father and nanny after eating a Filipino fried corn snack on Wednesday night.

"Early morning [Thursday] they started vomiting. At 3am we went to a hospital in Satwa, but the doctor just gave my son an injection to make him stop vomiting. They told me that he could go home once he had stopped vomiting," said Maribel Mendoza, the boy's mother.

She added they left the hospital at about 5am on Thursday morning.

She told Gulf News that around three hours later she was shocked to find her little boy no longer moving or breathing. She called an ambulance which took Angelo to Rashid Hospital.

But it was too late. Her son was gone.

"I was screaming. I didn't know what was happening," she said, sounding distraught.

"He was such an active and strong boy. He was talkative, so friendly and eager to learn everything," she added.

Now, she is trying to piece together what happened and move on from there. One question in her mind is whether the doctor at the hospital could have done more to save her son.

Investigation

"He didn't ask us what my son had eaten, did not check his blood or keep him in for observation. Maybe, he was the only doctor working on emergency cases that night, but he should still have checked him out before giving my son the injection."

A senior official with Dubai Police told Gulf News that the case was still under investigation. He did not say when the investigation would conclude.

Maribel said she and her husband would wait for the results of the autopsy and the investigation before proceeding with an official medical complaint against the hospital. She also said they wanted to bury their son in the Philippines.

Dr Eisa Kazim, assistant director general for medical affairs at Dubai Health Authority, told Gulf News that they would investigate the boy's death even if the parents did not file a complaint.

"It will come to us eventually and we will look into it," he said.

He added he could not comment until he had a chance to study the facts of the case, but said hospitals and physicians should try to find out the cause of an illness before treating the symptoms.

Angelo's case comes less than four months after a food poisoning case in Abu Dhabi, in which a 10-year-old girl died.

Two clinics she was brought to in August failed to diagnose her condition, instead treating her for vomiting and dehydration. Abu Dhabi Police confirmed she died of food poisoning.

Cash Advance

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The good thing about www.trustsource.com is that they also offer payday loans
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Dubai's taxi service to undergo overhaul

Dubai's taxi service to undergo overhaul
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter
Published in Gulfnews: December 09, 2007, 00:23

Dubai: Complaints about a shortage of taxis and rude behaviour of drivers in the fast expanding emirate of Dubai are rampant these days.

Commuters feel that the taxi service is not up to the mark when it comes to matching the high living standards in the city.

Long queues of people waiting for taxis at the airport and shopping centres have become a common sight and it has also become very difficult to hail a taxi on the roadside. Also residents have to wait for taxis for a long time even if they reserve it by phone.

Gulf News spoke to Abdul Aziz Malek, new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Taxi Agency at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), about plans to deal with the situation.

Malek is also Chairman of the International Federation of Public Transport (UITP) for the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) Assembly and was involved in the past in developing the public bus system in Dubai.

Gulf News: Commuters complain that taxi drivers refuse to go to Sharjah especially during peak hours.

Abdul Aziz Malek: Yes, it is true that they do this despite the fact that they are not allowed to refuse passengers.

Taxi drivers refuse to take passengers from Dubai to Sharjah, Ajman and vice versa because a trip during peak hours takes two to three hours and they lose revenue because they have to meet their target.

Also, they can take passengers only in one direction and have to return empty because the current rules do not allow them to carry passengers on their way back to their respective emirates.

For example, if a taxi takes a passenger from Dubai to Sharjah or Ajman or any other emirate, it has to come back empty. The same rule applies to taxis coming to Dubai from other emirates.

How will you solve this issue?
I think it's time to revise the rule. Transport authorities in the neighbouring emirates need to talk to each other to allow taxis to take passengers while on their way back to their respective emirates instead of driving back empty.

We need to sit together to solve this issue because every minute is counted in the taxi operation because it is purely a commercial venture.

Taxi companies will have to work on the plan of "going full and coming full" instead of making just one-way revenue trips.

Taxi drivers also refuse to go to congested areas of Deira and Bur Dubai during peak hours. What are you doing to solve this issue?
We have finalised locations for 38 taxi stands across Dubai. Taxis will be distributed equally in the city and every station will have taxis. Passengers will be able to take taxis from these stations anytime while taxis booked over the phone will also be dispatched from the nearest station in the area.

Is there any plan to increase the number of taxis in Dubai?
We are currently studying the plan focusing on taxi needs in the emirate for the next five to 10 years. There is no immediate plan to increase the number of taxis but all the taxis will be working on double shifts from the first quarter of next year.

Currently, some 800 drivers work on double shifts. We will soon run all our taxis 24 hours day to overcome the taxi shortage. The franchise companies are already running two shifts.

What are your plans to improve the taxi service?
Dubai Taxi Agency is no more a regulatory body as this function has been taken over by the RTA. We are now purely a commercial operator and our aim is to improve our business. Customer care, information technology development and driver training and welfare are our targets.

The taxi service in the Gulf countries is still in the developing stage and Dubai has taken the lead. We are becoming more professional and customer oriented. We are focusing on improving driver conditions because we want to make them more relaxed for an improvement in service.

But how do you tackle complaints about rude drivers and those who refuse passengers a ride on short distances and congested area?
We do not tolerate rude drivers. We have tough rules for violators and we do not compromise on customer complaints and immediately take action against the erring drivers.

We regularly train them and try to make them more professional. We also request our passengers to report any such incident to the RTA on 8009090.

While complaining they should not forget to give the body number and the colour of the taxi to ensure action. Let me explain to you that drivers are not allowed to refuse any ride lest they should face fines.

How are you improving your service for passengers reserving taxis by phone?
Some 11 per cent of Dubai Taxi trips are running on telephone calls. We have plans to improve the taxi dispatch service since there has been immense pressure on the dispatch and distribution centre.

Currently, there are no rules for the callers. Now, we are working on plans to set up some rules and regulations for the callers as well.

Many times they call a taxi but do not wait for the taxi in case it gets stuck in traffic or gets delayed for any other reason. This is a loss for the driver and the company as well.

Also, a system is being put in place to allow all the franchise companies to start the "call a taxi" service.

What other steps are being taken to improve the taxi service?
We at the RTA consider taxis as the last point of in our mass transit plan. We expect less people to use their cars and even taxis once integrated public transport plan, including the Dubai Metro, public bus transport and marine transport is in place within a couple of years.

Dubai unveils over 400 jobs at airports

Dubai unveils over 400 jobs at airports
Posten in Khaleej Online 8 December 2007

DUBAI — As the phase one of the Dubai International Airport expansion nears completion, Dubai Airports announced more than 400 job vacancies yesterday in three divisions, including engineering, aviation and Information Technology.

This is in line with the expected increase of around 75 million passengers every year at the airport. The organisation is gearing itself to meet the increased demand, Thani bin Jarsh, vice-president of Dubai Airports, said.

The phase one expansion would be complete by May 2008 and this would increase the airport’s in-take capacity to 75 million passengers every year, said Bin Jarsh. He is expecting the number of passengers travelling via Dubai Airport to jump to 33 million by the end of this year. This, according to him, requires the hiring of experienced and qualified experts to work at the airport, which is currently witnessing its biggest-ever expansion.

The available vacancies include posts for higher, medium and lower administrative levels. “The opportunity is available for all those who have the experience and meet the required conditions,” he said.

A large number of the officers and managers would meet the applicants and go through their resumes and fix dates for the final interviews.

Interested applicants can report to Al Hisn School, formerly Zayed University, between Monday and Wednesday, from 8am to 10 am along with their resumes.

Successful applicants will be notified of the interview timings.

RTA 'issuing random fines'

RTA 'issuing random fines'
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter
Published in Gulfnews: December 05, 2007, 23:14

Dubai: Beware of offering friends a lift in your car as you may end up with a hefty fine, say some residents.

A number of residents have said they have been fined by Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) officials for sharing their cars with friends. They said the RTA inspectors did not listen to their explanations and issued fines for "using their cars as illegal taxis."

"I was slapped with a Dh5,000 fine as I stopped to pick up my friend who was waiting for me on the roadside," said Taufueeq A. an Indian banker.

He said an RTA inspector in plainclothes approached his car and asked for his car registration, he tried to explain the situation but said he was not listened to.
A manager from a leading tour and travel agency told Gulf News that his driver was fined when he dropped off his clients at a shopping centre.
"I told my driver to drop the guests at a shopping centre but he was given a fine of Dh5,000 for ferrying passengers 'illegally.' We have to oblige our guests and often offer them pick up and drop off services but this practice will have a negative impact on the business," he said.

He said he approached the RTA to appeal against the fine but it was in vain. Similar complaints have been made by other residents who have said they are now scared to offer lifts to friends.

"I used to share my car with friends from Sharjah to my office in Dubai but I have stopped because one of our friends got a Dh5,000 fine for sharing his car with friends," said Sharma, a marketing executive.

When contacted an RTA official refused to talk about particular cases but explained that "car pooling" for monetary gain is illegal but sharing cars with colleagues going to the same location is allowed. "Our inspectors are well trained and they know who is sharing a car with friends and who is running an illegal taxi," he said.
He said motorists can always approach the RTA office or call the RTA call centre number 8009090 if they feel that they have been wrongly fined.