NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE Dailies
MoL, Indian mission to discuss labour issues
ABU DHABI — MAY 08: The Ministry of Labour (MoL) and the Indian Embassy will discuss proposals regarding protection of labourers’ rights in small and marginal companies at a meeting to be held today, according to a source in the ministry.
Yousef Jafaar, Labour Advisor at the MoL, said following the first meeting of the joint committee established as per the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two sides last December, UAE Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi will meet CM Bhandari, Ambassador of India to the UAE, to review the panel’s decisions at the MoL's office in the capital on May 10.
Among the proposals, item no 2 dealing with workers of unorganised sectors has apparently not been accepted as the MoL didn’t recognise the term, 'unorganised sectors' because the Article (4) of the MoU refers to protecting all workers in all sectors in the UAE.
Jafaar told Khaleej Times that the meeting would discuss amending the Article (4) for ‘giving protection to workers in small and marginal establishments’. For its side, the UAE proposes to add two new items to the agenda. The first item will deal with the measures that need to be taken by the Indian side to create a mechanism of awareness regarding the nature of the expatriate employment for a certain period of time in the UAE, known as 'Temporary Contractual Expatriate Workers'.
“During the meeting, the two sides will also discuss the second amendment that seeks to find the ways and means of creating awareness among workers of settling labour disputes as per Article (9) of the MoU,” Jafaar added.
The joint committee will also focus on the formalities of approving workers' contracts in addition to exchange of data between the two countries regarding job opportunities in the UAE.
KHALEEJ TIMES
He has ‘no property in India’
DUBAI — MAY 08: Even as an Indian court ordered to attach the properties of celebrated painter M.F. Hussain recently, a family source claimed the artist had no property in India.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, the family source, who did not wish to be named, said: "He (Hussain) does not have any property in India. The flat where the police have pasted the attachment notice is not his. Just because he stays there it does not mean it (flat) belongs to him, as the Mumbai Police Commissioner has claimed."
Commenting on the court order, the family source said the public interest litigation filed by some lawyers in India was a publicity stunt.
Despite all the public ire and the controversy surrounding his paintings, Hussain had earlier conceded that he could not wait to go back home. "I would love to go back to India. I have been waiting for the last one year," the painter had told KT.
His family, however, has no intention of letting him go to India till the dust settles. "We have kept him back here as we fear for his life. Only if the atmosphere is conducive shall we go back to India," the source asserted.
A court in Haridwar had asked the Mumbai Police to attach Hussain's properties after it declared him a proclaimed offender in a case pertaining to his paintings that allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of the majority Hindu community in India.
However, Hussain's family source claimed they had not received any summons from the court so far. In fact, according to him, the court's hearing was due only in two weeks.
Meanwhile, Hussain himself preferred to remain tight-lipped on the court order. He told KT: "The whole case is sub-judice. I do not want to comment on it as it would be a contempt of court."
KHALEEJ TIMES
Now, send SMS to call taxi in Dubai
DUBAI — MAY 08: From early next month, Dubai Taxi customers will be able to order taxis by short message service (SMS), announced Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, CEO of Public Transport Agency, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). He said the new SMS service will be more smooth, speedy and distinctive.
"The RTA always endeavours to develop and expand its services to match the urban development and rise in Dubai's population, in addition to the evolution in economy and trade, service, financial, tourism and other vital sectors," Al Mulla stated.
"By introducing the SMS service, the RTA aims to ensure speedy service to clients, including residents, visitors and tourists," he added.
He explained that the SMS service, in a nutshell, will identify the location of the client. On receiving an order, the automated workflow system will give the reservation number to the client and confirm the diverting of the nearest taxi to the designated site.
Al Mulla confirmed that the fare would be the same as is currently: Dh6 from 6.00am to 10.00pm and Dh7 from 10.00pm until 6.00 am.
Al Mulla said the new facility would have a positive impact on customer service. Nearly 3,000 additional vehicles belonging to franchise companies would be linked to the Reservation and Distribution System to join the existing 3,200 fleet of Dubai Taxi.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Pay bills through Etisalat mobiles
ABU DHABI — MAY 08: Etisalat customers can now pay their bills through mobile phones by using a pre-registered credit card following Etisalat's new payment service, according to a statement issued by the telecom company yesterday.
It said the move is a bid to avoid the inconvenience of long queues. All the GSM, fixed line, internet and E-Vision bills can be paid through the new system.
In order to use this service, customers should register their accounts on www.etisalat.ae with credit card details. Every time there is a GSM, fixed line, internet or E-Vision bill to pay, a customer only needs to pick up their mobile phone, dial *122#, and follow the simple steps outlined in the menu.
Customers can change their credit card details at anytime by logging on to Etisalat's Web site. Visa or MasterCard can be used along with this service.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Two warehouses, five cars gutted in Sharjah
SHARJAH — MAY 08: In yet another incident in Sharjah, a major fire that broke out in a steelworks warehouse in the 6th industrial area yesterday, spread rapidly to a neighbouring furniture warehouse and reduced both the structures to ashes.
According to a police source, five cars parked in the vicinity also were gutted.
On receiving information, Civil Defence and police personnel rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze.
Police sources at the scene alleged that lack of awareness among the public often obstructs the work of the fire-fighters.
Owners of neighbouring warehouses and the police source reported that four similar cases of fire have occurred in the same area in the recent past.
Col. Ghareeb Shaban, director of Sharjah Civil Defence, said in view of the fire incidents in Sharjah industrial area, emergency inspection teams will conduct random checks at the warehouses.
In the past, many violations were detected and owners of warehouse were warned, but some of them ignored instructions.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Palm fire: building owned by third party developer
DUBAI — MAY 08: Nakheel, the property developer for Palm Jumeirah, yesterday said the building where a massive fire broke out on Sunday was owned by a third party.
"Around 4pm on Sunday, a fire broke out in a building owned by a third party developer. It's currently under construction along the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah," said a Nakheel spokesperson.
The blaze was brought under control with the help of the Palm Jumeirah permanent Fire Tender and firefighters from the Civil Defence.
"Necessary steps have been taken to ensure the safety of all people on the island. Information provided to Nakheel by the contractor of the building has confirmed that all workers are accounted for," the statement clarified.
KHALEEJ TIMES
IMO delegation studies labour reforms
ABU DHABI — MAY 08: A delegation of the International Migration Organisation (IMO) visited the Ministry of Labour (MoL) to acquaint itself with the recent measures taken by the government in the UAE to improve the lot of labourers, according to a source at the ministry.
The Director-General of IMO, Brinson McNally, arrived early this week. "McNally will visit labour camps at different places in addition to some locations of oil companies at Das Island," the source said.
During the visit McNally will meet a number of the senior officials to discuss the issues pertaining to the term 'temporary labourers' mentioned by the Minister of Labour, Dr Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi in July 2006 at the meetings of the Economic and Social Council, to stress that the expatriate workforce in the UAE is of temporary nature and cannot be called immigrants.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Daman to unveil its expansion plan soon
ABU DHABI — MAY 08: The national health insurance company, Daman, is giving finishing touches to its expansion plans that will see a roll-out of new products and services across the country.
With an astounding 570,000 members signed up in just a year of its inception, Daman has become one of the largest health insurance companies in the GCC region.
The company's range of comprehensive health insurance schemes cater to both UAE nationals and residents,
Apart from UAE, Daman's international network covers 18 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Russia, Austria, Switzerland and India.
Daman's Chief Executive Officer Dr Michael Blitzer stated, "It's been a very successful year. We've achieved many milestones, such as half a million members and a tripling of our international network to 18 countries. I'm also extremely proud that we are helping to raise standards across the healthcare industry in the UAE, by associating with partners that maintain international standards."
Dr Blitzer said Daman is targeting an ambitious 17.5 per cent Emiratisation goal. Among the key achievements during the company's first year is the opening of four branches in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. "Every UAE resident deserves world-class healthcare. We will continue to strive for this as we enter our second year and remain focused on setting a regional benchmark for health insurance solutions," Dr Blitzer stated.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Million dirham baby
Dubai - May 08: He’s only 18 months old and he’s just become a millionaire. Little Yousef Al Sharari can afford a smile or two over the coming years knowing he has become the youngest ever winner of the National Bonds top prize of one million dirhams. So instead of pestering his parents for the latest toys and the newest clothes, Yousef can sleep easy in his cot knowing his nest egg can now buy him 20,000 teddy bears, 10,000 footballs or 66 petrol-powered kids cars - the most expensive item at Dubai’s Toys ‘R’ Us store.
The lucky toddler can thank his father Khaled Al Sharari for his fortuitous start to life after he bought the bonds in his name when the savings scheme was first launched in the UAE last year. Al Sharari, who lives in Fujairah and works for the Ministry of Defence, said: “The rewards and returns it can bring you are amazing.”
The youngster’s windfall met with a mixed reaction in the UAE yesterday - including an expected dose of good-natured jealousy. Sophia, from Ireland, said: “It’s not fair. I suppose you just feel frustrated when someone so young wins and you’ve been buying lottery tickets and raffle tickets all your life and not won anything. Then that amount of money falls into a diaper.”
But English expat Alan Price was a little more gracious about Yousef’s good luck. He said: “I think it’s great news. The money can go into a savings account so when he’s older he’ll have a deposit for a house or money to put himself through private education or university. He may not have been able to do that if he hadn’t won.” Yousef, who is only just learning to speak, decided not to offer the few words he knows to the media to comment on becoming a rich young man. As the 13th National Bonds millionaire, Yousef now replaces the previous youngest ever winner, two-year-old Fatima Al Mutawa, who won the top prize in November last year.
SEVEN DAYS
Dubai - Cultural invasion
Dubai - May 08: A senior police officer has blamed violent and raunchy television programmes for corrupting society and increasing the number of cases before Dubai’s courts. Lieutenant Colonel Jasim Mirza, head of the Awareness and Campaign Department in Dubai police, told 7DAYS that foreign satellite programmes and videos were negatively affecting the youth in UAE. “A cultural invasion has hit us, we know that the satellite channels are affecting our children and our traditions,” Mirza said. “If you see Dubai Courts you can find many cases of rape, illicit affairs and divorce cases. These satellite channels are responsible for this because of what they are broadcasting every day. There is the repeated violence and indecent behaviour which is strange to our community,” he added.
Dubai Police launched a campaign against the controversial channels last month to help educate people about the dangers from the programmes. “Along with violence and sexual scenes we now also have a fortune tellers channels and reality TV. We must educate the people,” Mirza said. He stated that it is the parents’ responsibility to look after their children and prevent them having access to dubious and corrupting programmes. “The solution for families is to fight against these channels. Children must be supervised, not just allowed to watch things on their own.” he said.
Police and youth community officers visited different schools in the UAE to help educate pupils as part of the campaign. Society expert Salha Bin Aran said: “TV is a weapon targeting society. The stations only care about their money and earning millions of dollars at the expense of society.”
SEVEN DAYS