New UAE Labour Law: Job offer letters will be legally binding

Any offer letter given to foreign worker will be legally binding once accepted and signed by both parties

Consider it a new year’s bonus.

From January 1, 2016, the UAE will implement sweeping reforms to the existing Labour Law, plugging loopholes that will now make employees even more content and secure in their workplace.

The primary changes to be enforced next year, as outlined by Minister of Labour, Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, pertain to employment contracts for workers hired from abroad, termination of job contracts, and issuance of new labour permits to resident workers.

As per new regulations, any offer letter made to a foreign worker will become legally binding once accepted and signed by both parties.

The resolution issued by the Minister of Labour mandates that employers will be required to disclose to the Ministry the terms of the offer made to a foreign worker.

The offer letters will be required to be detailed, and must contain a comprehensive description of the rights and duties of the employee, as well as outline the terms and conditions of employment.

The Ministry also requires that the employer ensures that the workers have seen the offer and agreed to its terms in a language that they understand.

This means that there cannot be significant changes between the offer letter and the terms of the final employment contract between a foreign workers and their employer, doing away with the possibility of any confusion or wrong-doing.

To enforce this resolution, the Ministry stipulates that the employee’s work permit at the Ministry of Labour is based on the offer letter that will be stored in the Ministry’s database.

The offer letter to a foreign worker will, therefore, become a legal contract, and the employer will not be allowed to alter or replace any of its provisions unless such changes have the consent of both the parties (the employer and the employee), and that any such changes do not prejudice the right of the worker and are not against the law.

The same holds true for a worker within the UAE, and the worker must sign and agree to the terms of the offer letter before the employer can seek the Ministry’s preliminary approval for his employment.

The UAE intends to enforce a new labour law at the start of 2016 to better regulate the relationship between employers and workers and curb violations to ensure both parties will get their rights.

The new law includes three main rules governing labour contracts for workers from abroad, terminating contracts between the employers and workers and the issuance of a new work permit to a resident worker.

“These rules will take the labour market to a new stage based on a strong and balanced relationship between all parties and on agreement and transparency in contracting to guarantee the rights of all parties,” Labour Minister Saqr Gobash said.

Which is better.. Keyboard or Piano?

Real pianos are great but the one big drawback is you can’t turn the volume down so with a piano you tend to end up playing for the neighbours. With a keyboard you can stick on some headphones and play whatever turns you on – you can experiment, make mistakes and sound silly and play something a thousand times without driving other people nuts. Ideally – have BOTH! If you are buying a piano it is preferable to buy an overstrung piano not a straight strung! How to tell: Lift the top lid of the piano you should see the tuning pins at the top of the piano. If the tuning pins are evenly spaced along the pin block and the strings are all parallel and vertical this is a straight strung piano. If there is a group of tuning pins at the left and a separate group at the right and the strings cross over in a X shape this is an overstrung piano. Also get a tuner to check it out. I bought a piano once that needed to have the wood treated because all the pins (that tighten the strings) were coming loose very quickly after being tuned – disaster! What Keyboard should you choose? A lot depends on what you want. Do you want a keyboard that sounds and feels like a Piano – then you’re looking for a keyboard or Digital Piano with WEIGHTED keys. Listen carefully to the piano sound – don’t be bamboozled by all the other buttons. If you want something portable then you are looking for a keyboard. Personally I would still look for one with weighted keys – I hate the feel of light plastic keys. Get a keyboard with at least 61 keys – anything less and you will be craving for more keys after a few days. Also make sure get a sustain pedal, a keyboard is absloutely a dead thing without one. Without a sustain pedal as soon as you lift your finger off a key the sound stops dead – with a piano at least the strings vibrate for a second or two – the difference is quite noticeable. Click Here! to know more

Piano practice can be fun too!..

Most people don’t really want to ‘learn’ to play the piano or ‘practice’ the piano, they just want to ‘play’ piano. ‘Play’ sounds like fun, ‘practice’ sounds like a chore. We get this image from childhood – some kid stuck indoors ‘practicing’ scales while all the other kids are outside the window ‘playing’. 

So, first thing we need to do is to see our piano practice in a new light. See it as a way of accelerating the learning process so that SOON you’ll be able to ‘play’ piano and play it well. If you don’t practice and you just play old familiar tunes you move rather slowly. Yes, you’ll get better at playing those old familiar tunes but technically you won’t be pushing yourself to greater heights.

Proper, structured piano practice helps you stride forwards. I say ‘proper’ because a lot of people have an idea that practice IS just playing songs over and over. Practice needs to involve unchartered territory. The golden rule is – ‘practice what you CAN’T play, not what you CAN play’.

First of all, work out what you want to achieve. Do you just want to know all your chords without thinking about how they are formed – then work out a practice routine that leads to that goal. Maybe you want to learn about inversions or chord substitution – again, make the practice fit the goal.

Split your practice session into two halves. In the first half play the difficult stuff – your mind is sharper to begin with – then reward yourself with some enjoyable but reasonably difficult tunes. Make sure you are comfortable. Many a bad back has happened because of a bad piano stool at the wrong height. Make sure your piano is in tune. If you don’t have a good piano and are serious about learning GO BUY A GOOD ONE.
Every fifteen minutes stretch your arms and shoulders and roll your neck to combat stiffness. Check out some Yoga exercises for shoulders and back.

Follow the 3 times daily rule. Repetition in practice is ESSENTIAL. If you find something particularly difficult make sure you practice it at least 3 times every day. Don’t worry if it takes months to master – you’ll get there.
Don’t play for the neighbours. Practice piano at a time when you don’t care who is listening so that you can make lot’s of mistakes and play things over and over. Organise your piano music carefully – don’t keep it in a heap where you keep playing the ones on top. If you download sheet music put it in a folder. Have plenty of shelves near the piano. Be realistic – I truly believe that anyone can learn piano and learn it to an enjoyable level but no two people are alike – some are more ‘naturally’ gifted than others. If you have an average ability then it’s all down to practice. The more you practice the more you learn.

Now and then, practice with your eyes closed – or don’t look at the keys – this really sharpens you up. Organise your life so that practice is possible (this where Mindfulness comes in). Too many people think they don’t have time to practice when really they just haven’t found the time. How long should you practice – that’s up to what you want to achieve. You don’t have to be a concert pianist. Even if you just play for yourself just enjoy that. The archer who’s mind is on the prize cannot stay focussed on the target. Accept the bad days when it seems like you can’t play a note. Sometimes it’s better to walk away. So remember that ‘playing’ piano and ‘practicing’ piano are different. Which do you do? Aim for a bit of both.

Click Here! to know more

Now it's Robo-Doc's turn to treat you

Robot arrives at Hatta Hospital

A robot has been added to the staff at Hatta Hospital’s Trauma Center and will be doing rounds from this week.

DubaiRobodoc was presented at the Interactive Health Forum last week and has only just started ‘working’. He already knows his way to every patient room, and will be providing a helping pair of eyes.

The man behind the screen is Moin Fikree, Medical Director of the Trauma Hospital at Rashid Hospital.

“When a doctor dials in, the patient will actually see me on the screen, while I can observe the patient,” he says.

“I can talk to the patient, observe vital signs, see the x-rays or CPG’s taken and examine the patient by asking him to raise his right arm, open his mouth, stick out his tongue etc.

“I can even listen to his lungs or heart.”

Based on the observations made Fikree can then make his recommendations.

“I can tell the doctor to apply certain medicine, and monitor the patient after the treatment was given. The patient is now out of risk and can be transported to Rashid Hospital.”

DubaiRobodoc was introduced to make specialist health care more available across hospitals run by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

As a start one robot has been deployed at the Trauma Centre Hatta Hospital, where no specialists are available at a 24-hour basis.

Especially at the Trauma Centre time can play a crucial role, the doctor explains.

“In case of a stroke, for example, the treatment should be given in three hours. Imagine a patient suffering from an acute stroke in his house. When he arrives in the emergency room half an hour was already lost. The patient must then be examined, and the specialist is not available he must be transported to Rashid Hospital. A lot of time will be lost.”

Although DubaiRobodoc is now the only robot available, more robots will be deployed in the future.

“This can work in all sorts of health related issues, such as a simple skin rash, for example. A general practitioner may diagnose it and refer the patient to a dermatologist.

“The patient then needs to make an appointment, go to another clinic, wait for the doctor, while the same practitioner can dial in with this technology, and the patient will be seen right away.”

Not everything can be done through the robot, admits Fikree. “There are some limitations. In some cases I will need to use my hands, and I will really have to see the patient. But I think it can be done in 75 per cent of the cases, if the patient agrees.”

Asked whether he will be able to handle the large number of patients now requiring his expertise, he says that these patients would eventually come to him anyway. “We would see these patients in any case, but we are seeing them in a different way now.”

The technology has been tested with simulated cases and is now ready to be used in reality. “We saw a patient who suffered multiple injuries after he was thrown out of a car. We diagnosed him, started immediate treatment and then ordered his transportation to Rashid Hospital immediately,” said the doctor.

Dubai developers set ball rolling with mega projects

Details of Expo 2020 plan will unleash private developments as well

Meraas’ La Mer, Jumeirah [SUPPLIED]

Upbeat property developers in Dubai kicked off the day one at Cityscape Global on Sunday with series of new launches – master developments to standalone projects, but primarily targeting the upmarket segment.

Prices in Dubai’s luxury market still are growing at the fastest pace in the world. In the year to March 2014, prices are up almost 25 per cent, though transactions have slowed down.

However, Dubai Land Department said that total value of real estate transactions had crossed Dh155 billion on as of September 2014, and the market was set for further growth.

The new projects launches were apart from the ones that Emirates 24|7 reported earlier yesterday.

The major announcements, once again, came from state-owned developers, however, property experts believe private sector will become active once the work starts on Expo 2020 venue site and all infrastructure plans are unveiled.

In its Q3 Dubai property market report, CBRE, a global real etsate consultancy, said positive market and economic fundamentals over the past 12 months has seen a growing number of developers moving ahead with stalled projects as well as the launch of multiple new schemes within a short time period.

The sales market, however, grew at a slower rate than in previous quarters with average sales prices increasing by around three per cent quarter-on-quarter, bringing the annual growth close to 23 per cent.

The best performing segment of the market during the quarter was found to be high-end apartments, a trend that was also visible in buying patterns with prime areas such as Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah seeing the majority of transaction activity, the consultancy said.

Meraas’ La Mer, Jumeirah

Meraas Holding, which is building theme parks and Bluewaters Island launched La Mer, a mixed-use development that will take shape in Jumeirah in the vicinity of Pearl Jumeirah Island.

Construction is set to commence in Q4 2014, the developer said, which is also building theme parks and Bluewaters Island.

La Mer will spread across 9.5 million square feet of existing and reclaimed land. It comprises four distinct zones - the beach, a leisure and entertainment hub, North Island, and South Island and feature commercial, leisure, residential and hospitality components.

“Our feasibility studies have confirmed that La Mer will be one on the projects which will positively contribute to Dubai's economy and set new global benchmarks for beachfront developments,” said Abdulla Al Habbai, Group Chairman, Meraas Holding.

On North Island and South Island, La Mer will include fully integrated residential neighbourhoods that will have 688 apartments and villas and a 160 key hotel.

Midtown by Deyaar

Deyaar Development, listed on Dubai Financial Market, unveiled Midtown by Deyaar - a 5.5 million square feet “upscale” master development adjacent to the southern end of Jumeirah Golf Estates.

“Midtown will continue Deyaar’s tradition of quality projects taking design-led luxury living to a new level in the region. This project will create a distinctive cultural ambiance that enriches the lifestyle of its occupants,” Saeed Al Qatami, Chief Executive, Deyaar, said.

Midtown by Deyaar will include a total of 27 buildings and will house two hotels on the northern and southern tips, along with 13 separate residential buildings on the east side of the development, and 12 buildings clustered into four groups.

While three buildings are joined into one group on the west side of the master plan, all the 27 buildings will share a one level podium covering retail, parking, and essential services.

Nakheel’s The Palm Gateway
Nakheel launched The Palm Gateway – a three-tower waterfront living and leisure complex with more than 1,300 homes, a beach club, retail, dining and health and fitness facilities.

The Palm Gateway comprises three individually - designed high-rise residential buildings – the tallest topping 260 metres – with one, two and three bedroom apartments, available for lease.

The trio of towers will be constructed on the existing Palm Monorail Gateway terminal, the roof of which will be transformed into a 15th floor podium with infinity pool, shops and sports facilities set in extensively landscaped grounds.

Palm Gateway will also have its own beach club and park – a shaded, landscaped complex with a diverse range of waterfront dining and shopping options, pool, barbecue areas and fitness facilities, including a jogging track.

Meydan’s District Eleven

Meydan Group announced two major new projects: Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City District Eleven and Meydan Avenue, two mixed-use developments.

District Eleven is a suburban mixed-use community development featuring parks, private schools and retail businesses with two prime residential areas. The residential areas cover a total ground floor area of 450,000 square metres and 210,000 square metres, respectively.

One of the unique elements to District Eleven will be Kent College Canterbury – Meydan, a partnership between Meydan Group and one of the most respected educational institutes in the UK. The school will eventually accommodate up to 2,000 students; sport and recreational facilities will include football and rugby fields, cricket grounds and a running track.

Meydan Avenue, which was previously known as Diamond Business Park, will offer a blend of residential, commercial, retail and recreational
facilities enhanced by the sports and leisure attractions.

Completing the range of developments at Meydan Avenue will be the new Meydan Headquarters, a 17,500 square metres facility with 11,600
square metres available as leasable office space to local and international businesses.

Meydan Chairman, Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, said, "We are building desirable communities in Dubai which will become integral areas for living and working in the years to come. It’s an exciting time for us at Meydan as construction is underway on both of these major new projects and will soon be coming to life."

DP’s Maram Residence
Dubai Properties (DP) launched Maram Residence in Burj Khalifa district, a two-tower project.

“The project will cater to the increased demand for luxury residential and commercial property in strategic locations across Dubai, and we anticipate that its launch will further support the development of Dubai by catering to its growing population,” said Mohammed Alhabbai, Chief Officer for Urban Planning and Infrastructure at Dubai Properties Group.

The two 27 storey towers will have unit options including one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments along with six exclusive penthouse suites.
Maram Residence will include a business lounge, an indoor children’s play area, an outdoor children’s play and pool area, a state of the art gym and fitness area, a jogging track, a sky Garden with seating areas and water features, and an infinity pool deck at roof level with a lounge for an ideal urban living experience.

Contract awarding process has begun, with the piling and enabling contract being awarded to NSCC Contracting Company.

Damac’s Paramount Hotel

Damac Properties and luxury hotel operator, Paramount Hotels & Resorts launched Paramount Hotel Dubai, Downtown. Housing 1,250 rooms and suites, the hotel will showcase timeless Hollywood elegance with Californian lifestyle and integrate elements of Paramount Pictures movies through high tech media mapping and digital signage.

Concept design of the project which will be developed on a plot located just off Sheikh Zayed road in the Downtown area is already underway with the hotel set to open its doors in 2018.

“The number of visitors to Dubai is set to double in the next six years and the Paramount Hotel Dubai, Downtown will support the growth with a high-end, theatrical and immersive experience for international tourists,” said Ziad El Chaar, Managing Director, Damac Properties.

6 checks when buying a used car in UAE

From the exterior to the dashboard – what to look for when checking out a second-hand car

True car lovers will only vouch for buying brand new cars equipped with the latest technology.

Used machines depreciate, they believe, and will only give you a lot of heartache and headache as you discover a new problem each day.

This is true, especially for those who, to begin with, are true car lovers and of course have the money to drive a new set of wheels every two years.

For the rest, who consider a car as only a medium to take them from point A to B, from their homes to office and to the grocery store, a used car at a fraction of the original price makes practical and economic sense.

Buying a used car is not a bad idea and, with a bit of research and caution, you can still drive second-hand wheels without all the associated problems that keep the car and technology enthusiasts at bay.

Here are six important things that you should remember when going in for a used car to avoid the frequent garage visits. 

#1 Check the exterior of the car

The exterior of the car can tell you a lot about what to expect when you open its doors.

The upkeep of the car will speak of the engine maintenance and its overall health and a little bit of attentiveness can also reveal the difference between the original and a new coat of paint.

According to Al Futtaim Automall, a pre-owned cars dealer in the UAE, you should carefully check the exterior paintwork for fading, rust, dents and scratches.

“Study the car surface from its four corners. Any waviness spotted in the body paint indicates new paintwork.

“Also, run your finger along the edges of the joints, between the panels, feeling for roughness which is created from leftover masking tape, another tell-tale sign of a recent paint touch-up,” experts at the company says.

If you can feel a new layer of paint on top of the original paint, be wary of red flags. The car has probably been in an accident.

Examine the chassis of the car very carefully.

“Never buy the car if there is any kind of damage to the chassis because that car will generally not be given a green light by car registration and inspection authorities, particularly in UAE,” says Hassan Siddiqi, Business Head, www.yallamotor.com
 

#2 Look for rust

Look for corrosion or rust in all possible areas. According to www.uaeusedcar.com, this is one thing that potential buyers should not forget, especially if the machine is more than five years old.

With the UAE’s hot and harsh weather, chances of rust increase if the car hasn’t been maintained well.

Look for rust at the top and rear of the front wings, along the side sills, below front and rear bumpers and the bottoms of the doors – in a nutshell, in all possible areas where the metal can get rusted.

“Sometimes a rust blemish on the paintwork can indicate more serious corrosion underneath.

“Press the panel gently with your thumb. If there is a cracking noise, it indicates advanced corrosion,” the website advises.
 

#3 What does the mileage say?

This is a very obvious one, but an important factor nevertheless that you need to consider. Always check the car’s odometer for mileage. It’s like the wrinkles on our face and easily tells the age of the machine.

“On average, a normal usage car will cover between 25,000km to 30,000km a year.

“However, this depends on many factors. Remember, cars age by mileage and over time too. So, buying a 10 year old car with very low mileage is not necessarily a good thing either. It is equally important that the owner has taken good care of the car and serviced it regularly as well,” suggest experts at Automall.
 

#4 Get a feel of the engine

The engine should be neither too clean nor too dirty. A very dirty one says that the car has suffered from neglect whereas a sparkling shiny one will tell you a clean-up job has been done to cover problems.

Have a look at the general state of the engine.

Check the colour of the oil, the quantity and colour of coolant and pay attention to the kind of noise that the engine makes as you turn on the ignition.
 

#5 Get to know the history

You should always find out about the history of the car, especially ones that have American specifications.

And this is why we suggest doing so. “In many cases, these cars still have their VIN number printed on the dashboard. A quick check-up using VIN number can be done online.

“Also, use other sources, like the stickers on the car giving details of the original US dealer or the original registration that might still be in the car. If you are a resident of Al Ain or Abu Dhabi in UAE, you can check car service history by logging to Abu Dhabi Ministry of Interior website,” explains Siddiqi.

“In most situations, the previous owner would have kept a record of the car’s service history and should be willing to share this information with you. If this information is not available, Automall recommends taking it for a further check-up.
 

#6 Stick to cars meant for UAE roads

While in Rome, do as Romans do. This was apt then and is so now. If you are living in the UAE and will drive on these roads, it’s best to buy in the country than get it imported from elsewhere.

Cars bought elsewhere can have specifications that don’t meet UAE requirements and may cause trouble later.

Another word of caution here – don’t get a car from the junkyard of another country into your parking bay.

“Last year there were many cars imported that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy in New York.

“For example, a 2013 Honda Pilot Touring, which has been damaged in hurricane Sandy was imported.

“This car will be taken to workshops, made to look brand new and then sold to customers at below market prices. Unsuspecting customers may buy it, thinking they got a bargain.

“In reality, they will be buying cars that have been written off by insurance companies and banks in the US,” maintains Siddiqi.

UAE employees allowed to work part-time at another job: MoL

Employees of one entity may work for another if conditions are met

Many employees in the UAE believe that having a part-time job if s/he is employed elsewhere is illegal in the country and those flouting the rules will be penalised. That isn’t entirely true.

Since 2010, the UAE’s Labour Law has provisions that allow an employee to opt for a part-time job along with a full-time one. If certain conditions are met, a person who is already employed by an entity may work for another employer – legally.

What the UAE Ministry of Labour says

As told to Emirates 24|7, the UAE’s Ministry of Labour says that a part-time work permit is valid for one year. This work permit can be issued to local, GCC and expatriate employees to work in another company on a part-time basis, which is less than eight hours and at the same time with their current work.

It is up to the employer to give the no objection certificate (NOC) to the employee. The applicant (18 years) on family sponsorship/ student (male and female more than 18 years) can also work on a part-time work permit with NOC from the sponsor. Such work permits can be issued to employee between 18 and 65 years of age.

The fee for part-time work permit includes an application fee of Dh100 and an approval fee of Dh500, the UAE’s Ministry of Labour said in comments to this website.

“As a result of amendments to the Federal Immigration and Labour Laws in 2010, it is now possible for non-UAE nationals (expatriates) to hold a second job,” Jamie Liddington, Senior Associate at Hadef & Partners, explained to Emirates 24|7.

“The employee must remain employed and sponsored by the first (full-time) employer who must consent in writing to the employee taking on a part-time job,” Liddington told this website. “An application for a part-time work permit should then be submitted to the Ministry of Labour by the second (part-time) employer together with supporting documents (including the first employer’s letter of consent) and payment of a fee which varies according the part-time employer’s status,” he explained.

Sara Khoja, Partner, Middle East Employment Group at Clyde and Co LLP states that all parties should agree amicably and the route to a part-time job can be paved.

“If both employers are registered with the Ministry of Labour, then, it is possible for an employee to be sponsored by one company but to also work part-time for another company, provided the Ministry of Labour issues a temporary work permit for the second employer,” she told this website.

“If the employers are registered with the Department of Immigration only and not with the Ministry of Labour, then there are also temporary work permits which can be obtained,” she explains further.

And, the good news is that many employers are letting their employees go for this option. “In our experience, most employers will allow employees to take on a second job where the employee can show that the part-time work will not interfere with or adversely affect the employee’s performance in the full time role. However, each sector is different and each particular case will depend on the facts,” says the Hadef expert.

Another important thing to consider here is the difference between part-time jobs and freelancing and both should be treated differently.

Freelancing is working for yourself, where you are essentially a company made up of one person, which is perfectly legal as long as you are licensed to do so. If you are a freelancer, then you will need to secure a Trade License pertaining to your business activity from your selected Licensing Authority, and adhere to their stipulations, says Alexandra Tohme, Community Manager at Nabbesh.com, a virtual skills marketplace, especially catering to freelancers in the region.

The add-on part-time jobs may provide a sort of quick-fix solution to those who may have missed payments to banks or are finding it hard to make their ends meet, or simply wish to make more money and are ready to burn the midnight’s oil, proverbially speaking.

Almost 8 out of 10 people in the UAE are indebted to their banks, according to an online poll run by compareit4me.com.

More than half of the respondents of the online poll run by the website said they have a credit card loan (54.7 per cent), followed by personal loans (43.6 per cent), car loans (12.6 per cent) and mortgages (4.1 per cent) and, worse, they are missing on the schedules payments.

If you are in such a sticky situation, financial prudence is the best policy but to get rid of these payments and also to sustain yourself, you could well consider a part-time after you finish your daily obligations with your full time employer.

It may be a good short-term solution to financial woes, but can be a very exhausting exercise in the long term. Nonetheless, something to fall back on until the next increment at your workplace.