Thursday, September 2, 2010

7DAYS speaks to expats who have been made redundant and finds out what help is at hand

Redundancy is one of life’s most stressful experiences and as the number of Dubai’s jobless continues to rise, more and more people across the emirate are being left feeling despondent. But if the worst does happen, where can you turn? A recent survey revealed 54 per cent of expats are worried about keeping their jobs and 46 per cent are considering fleeing the UAE to escape redundancy. Rashid Al-Banna is an economist and management consultant with more than 25 years experience. He says he helped build Dubai by working for the government in the 1990s and forging development programmes during the boom. He left the UAE for the US but returned to a private sector job back in Dubai eight months ago. But after uprooting his family and travelling thousands of miles back to the Gulf, he has now been made redundant. He is facing a financial crisis as he struggles to find work and support his wife and 14-year-old son.

“I am terrified that our meagre savings will run out and we will literally just be left with the clothes on our backs,” he said. “As soon as the school year ends in June, we will have nothing left - I don’t know what we will do. “The number of people losing their jobs and leaving the country means that Dubai’s consumer class is shrinking which will also have a very serious effect on the city.” For those who find themselves in a similar position to Al-Banna it is important to find out what your options are. International law firm DLA Piper advises workers to check contracts carefully to find out where they stand in terms of repatriation and end-of-service packages. DLA Piper’s Neil Crossley said: “It’s important to check the terms of the contract because repatriation schemes can differ greatly, especially in terms of details like covering the cost of sending possessions back home.” Many expats are under the impression employers have to pay for their flight home. But the labour law states that companies only have to pay for a flight back to the country where the job offer was made. So for workers on their second job in Dubai, they could find an airfare home is not part of the deal.

“Employers are only bound to pay for a flight back to the country where you were hired from so if you’re on your second job in the UAE, again it comes down to the discretion of the employer but staff are always entitled to ask,” he said. Once a contract has been terminated, expats can stay in the country for a maximum of 30 days. But Crossley says employers can help redundant staff by allowing them to work out their notice, rather than terminating contracts and visas immediately, giving them more breathing space. Anas Mustafa, an Indian accountant, was given an extra month to find a new job by his company after being made redundant. “It has given me time to approach career consultancies and read newspapers to look for jobs. However things are not going well and I have not found one yet.” Crossley added: “It’s cost neutral to the employer because they can either pay to the end of the notice period or give a payment in lieu of. “Although it could be a gamble for the employee as they won’t get that further lump sum payment attached to their gratuity. “If the person feels they have a good chance of finding work, it could be beneficial because they would have more time to allow them to do that,” said Crossley.

British health and safety consultant, Craig Simpson, 34, was axed by his firm in January. He was left with nowhere to stay and says he was not paid the full wages he was owed by his bosses. He is now taking his company to court over breaches in labour law. He said: “I was on a three-year fixed term contract until the end of March but in January they decided to make me redundant. I should be paid until March but I haven’t been given that money. “Once you lose your job here, things become very difficult and lots of people are stuck in the same position.” Consulate offices may be the first port of call for stricken expats and they can help by providing contact information and also give advice for workers who are entering into a dispute with employers. A spokesman for the British Consulate said: “We can point people in the right direction for what they need to do next.  The main thing for people who plan to stay in the country, is to make sure their visas are in order.“We have been approached by people involved in disputes with employers and we have a list of lawyers on our web site that they can contact.”

Blue-collar workers are being hit hardest by the downturn but there is help available from Dubai-based charity Helping Hands.  The organisation offers support to low-paid workers, particularly in the construction sector, but has also launched a series of seminars aimed at couples who have found themselves out of work. For many people, coming to terms with the initial shock of losing a job is difficult but it is important to focus on making sure CVs are up to scratch and up to date. Recruitment consultancy Bayt.com recently attracted 1,000 redundant workers to its free CV clinic in Internet City. The firm will continue to offer a free service for unemployed professionals to help with their CVs.

Useful contacts
For details of consulate offices in Dubai, go to www.dubai-information.info
To contact the Ministry of Labour, go to www.mol.gov.ae or telephone the Dubai office on 04 269 1666
Reach Helping Hands on 050 567 1434 or www.helpinghandsuae.org
Bayt.com recruitment consultants 04 391 1900