NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from Media
Two-thirds of Employees want to quit work
UAE - Feb. 12:More than two-thirds of employees in the Gulf are more likely to leave their job this year than in 2007, the ArabianBusiness.com Salary Survey has revealed. Data from the first annual survey shows a sharp decline in job loyalty across the GCC, led by Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Almost three-quarters of employees in Oman said they were more likely to quit their job this year, with only 11 per cent saying they were more likely to see the year out in their present position. In the UAE, 68 per cent of employees said they were looking for another job.
“Substantial mismatches in recent years between salary raises and perceived increases in the cost of living, which have dramatically lagged behind, have meant that professionals are disgruntled and are weighing their options,” Lama Ataya, corporate communications director of Bayt.com, told 7DAYS. Ataya added that many people were not only shifting to better jobs within the same industry, but relocating to places where they can enjoy better living standards and shifting careers altogether to enjoy the boom being experienced by the new sectors of the emerging regional economies.
“Employers need to recognise that a number of other factors beside pay also influence professional loyalty towards their companies significantly, as [our latest] survey has detailed. These range from opportunities for long-term career progression, to quality of line and senior management, to training and development infrastructures, to physical work environment and diversity on workplace issues,” added Ataya.
SEVEN DAYS
Internet service restored
ABU DHABI - Feb 12: Etisalat, UAE's major telecom and internet service provider, on Monday announced complete restoration of UAE Internet links and start of normal Internet traffic following confirmation from its international service providers Flag and Sea-ME-We4 on completion of repairs to their damaged cables. During the period of disruption, Etisalat was successful in prioritising Internet traffic and essential services to customers to ensure that they continued to operate with minimal or no impact.
WAM
UAE, India ink pact on flight services
RAS AL KHAIMAH - Feb. 12: The United Arab Emirates and India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on flight services between them.
The agreement which was signed at a ceremony attended by Salim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Aviation Department aims to operate 7 daily flights between the UAE emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and India.
Carriers may freely choose one destination in the subcontinent, says the agreement.
A second destination can be added within the capabilities of RAK Airways upon the launch of services between the two countries, according to the MoU.
WAM
Residents join hands to clean coastline
ABU DHABI - FEB. 12: MORE than 250 volunteers joined hands on the first clean-up campaign which covered Mussafah channel, as Mussafah Industrial Area shore line represents one of the worst spots in terms of waste found, the Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi (EAD), announced recently.
The area was cleared of marine debris and litter that included many wooden panels, styrofoam, plastic glass bottles and tyres.
Moreover, the total quantity of waste which was collected during this clean up campaign reached 6,720 kilogramme, where wood alone weighed 5,420 kilogramme.
Further the waste, included cardboard cartoons, plastic water bottles, metal waste which in return were sent for recycling.
Majid Al Mansouri, EAD's Secretary General said that Abu Dhabi's coastline is in dire need of the public's help.
"Waste from construction sites and other sources have littered our coastline, not only causing an eye sore but also endangering precious marine life such as dugongs and sea turtles, our health and our fragile environment and we are truly concerned," he added.
He observed, "The clean up campaigns, which was launched under the theme "Marine Debris is a Silent Killer. Help Keep Our Seas Clean." is being accompanied by a comprehensive awareness and education campaigns covering a wide spectrum of the population including fishermen.
Al Mansouri noted that part of the campaign's message to the public is that marine debris is not just a problem for the Government to solve. The community plays a large role in keeping the UAE's seas safe and clean."
Further the campaign stresses that a careless moment by us only has a negative impact on our marine life, our life, our children's and of the future generations.
He also stressed that these campaigns will continue until the Abu Dhabi shores are clean and missions to protect the marine environment are accomplished.
The Secretary-General further calls up all individuals, private and government to support EAD in these campaigns as marine debris poses a potential threat to the health of humans and marine flora and fauna.
GULF TODAY
Work against human trafficking lauded
Abu Dhabi - Feb. 12: The UAE National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) has hailed the Abu Dhabi Police for their initiatives in curbing the menace.
The NCCHT team, led by Dr Anwar Gargash, minister of state for FNC affairs and head of the UAE NCCHT, visited the headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Police Force Capital Department, to convey the appreciation of the police force and to discuss further measures to eradicate human trafficking.
The visit was part of a series of measures to enhance interaction between the various stakeholders involved in fighting human trafficking. The NCCHT team had earlier visited the Dubai Women and Child Institution.
The minister said the visit highlighted the role of law enforcement and the executive arms in fighting human trafficking, and also the importance of enhancing police and public awareness on the matter.
"NCCHT and law enforcement complement each other's action in the efforts to curb human trafficking. The committee supports preventive legislations and delegates more power to the police force in charge. The sensitiveness shown by the police officers in dealing with trafficking victims is laudable."
He said the prompt engagement and effective practices undertaken by the Abu Dhabi Police has contributed to achieving significant progress in addressing the issue of human trafficking.
Brigadier Al Menhali conveyed that initiatives by the Abu Dhabi Police in curbing the crime are a priority.
GULF TODAY