03 June, 2009

Views on potential sponsorship reforms

"The six Gulf Cooperation Council countries are allegedly divided over whether to include Bahrain's decision to scrap the sponsorship system in the alliance's address to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) 98th conference in Geneva."

More here, and here.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I, for one, want to see how they will try to make this into a 'technicality' game!!

Anonymous said...

what I would like to know is what the citizens of the GCC actually think? IT's always been the views of the government and expats, foreign institutes (IMF, ILO, etc.).. we have never heard the views of ordinary citizens of the countries involved.

I don't know why this has never even been considered. They are affected by these decisions too, you know.

An Expat

Adam said...

Which ever, I would like to see it being implemented. Its a great rule and will give expats an opportunity to leave the bad employer for a better one. I think it will being the economy a bit down for a while, but once things fall into place, it will being it up again.

I seriously hope that the UAE will consider it.

Anonymous said...

As far as Im concerned, a foreign worker is brought here as an asset, to do a job. if he doesnt do the job for the person who brought him in, he should be sent back to his place of origin.

This country is already over filled with foreigners as it is, most under VISAs with people and companies that they dont even work with. we dont need every other person coming here and being to do as he likes.

Anonymous said...

True a foreign worker is a person hired for a specific a job. If he doesn't do the job to a standard that is acceptable he should be fired and a person capable or willing to do the job should found replace him. This should be how it works for both locals and expats.

On the other side of the coin, if I hire someone under false pretences, say for example I tell them their job will be to work in a hotel, but leave out the part that they will have to be a prostitute after their day shift, they should have the right to quit and either go home or find an employer who won't abuse their power as the "sponsor".

Anonymous said...

@ABIT

You are having a bad day, aren't you?

All over the world "assets" who come to work are not considered slaves. No one should expect anyone to uproot themselves and not even have the freedom to change a job.

It would make for a happier, more productive workforce if there is a sense of security. Instead of helpless people who feel stuck having lost options.

Your people take advantage of other countries when they are there - education that is accountable and contracts that are legal. The world being fair allowed your people to say "I'm at home in NY" or "My grandfather had trading ties with India."

Proud Emirati said...

I personally don't mind if sponsorship system was canceled but with strict procedures. For example if a company recruited someone from abroad he should be staying minimum of 3 years in the company and if he wanted to change to another company in less than agreed 3 years he should make a 3 months notice in advance and would be only eligible for half the salary to compensate for the recruitment expenses.

This is what I can think of now but there should be other restricitions toward recruiting expatriates and more incentives recruiting Emiratis if sponsoring was scrapped.

Anonymous said...

And you are 'proud'?

Why not have a reverse as well.. for anything that the company's lapses... like keeping my passport, not having a clear job description, delay in getting a visa... let the company pay me a month's salary.

And you mean a company guarantees me a job for three years, with pay hikes and bonuses?

The person who comes to another country burns several bridges to do so. Sometimes they are expats moving from one country to another, often they have children who have started school.

UAE companies often do not pay relocation expenses. And of course, don't me started on "recruitment expenses". We are know that at the bottom of the ladder companies make the labourers pay for their tickets, visa costs and insurance.

And if you did think it through you would know that most people move jobs for better pay. You mean you want a system where all companies pay the same wages for the same post?

Anonymous said...

True a foreign worker is a person hired for a specific a job. If he doesn't do the job to a standard that is acceptable he should be fired and a person capable or willing to do the job should found replace him. This should be how it works for both locals and expats.

Agreed. But when you are a CITIZEN of a country, you are fired. a foreign worker should be deported at once. he should not be allowed to be here without a clear cut goal.

if I hire someone under false pretences, say for example I tell them their job will be to work in a hotel, but leave out the part that they will have to be a prostitute after their day shift, they should have the right to quit and either go home or find an employer who won't abuse their power as the "sponsor".

No, if you come here under "false pretenses" and dont like it, you go back home, you should NOT have the right to switch jobs. If that is unacceptable, stay in your own country, or move to one of the 200 available. Very simple.

This is what I can think of now but there should be other restricitions toward recruiting expatriates and more incentives recruiting Emiratis if sponsoring was scrapped.

I dont agree with this. I think the WHOLE UAE populace needs to be uprooted with 10% of foreigners being forced to leave within a year. Especially people who have been here for 20+ years. And Im talking about the Arab workers especially. These are the people who think they are special, or above other foreigners because they are Arab. And these are the people who will (and have) cause social issued in the future.

Hell, they even invented a special name for themselves, a "wafid" so as to be superior to a british or Indian or Omani national.

All over the world "assets" who come to work are not considered slaves.

Nor are they considered that here. Please show me just ONE piece of UAE law that claims that. Please do show me that. Think before you speak. I, unlike most, will hold you accountable for your stupid comments.

No one should expect anyone to uproot themselves and not even have the freedom to change a job.

And just who asked them to uproot themselves? Not I surely. Their own greed, or the fact that they come from a hell hole that cant provide for them, is what brought them here. and the law is very clear. You are an asset to the organization on your VISA. If you are not a good asset, you can be sold or returned.

In the US, I was an asset of the school listed on my I20. I could NOT make a move without their permission. But its ok for the US to do this, the UAE? No, no right to control it's foreign influx.

Pathetic.

Your people take advantage of other countries when they are there - education that is accountable and contracts that are legal. The world being fair allowed your people to say "I'm at home in NY" or "My grandfather had trading ties with India."

And the UAE doesnt offer that? You ever been to knowledge village? the vast majority of students are... FOREIGNERS taking advantage of the education here.

And as many many companies are owed or operated by foreigners here, contracts are legal and binding.

What crappy written contracts have you signed?

like keeping my passport, not having a clear job description, delay in getting a visa... let the company pay me a month's salary.

That is company policy, not government policy. If thats what you want, have it added to your contract.

The person who comes to another country burns several bridges to do so.

Thats smart.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes they are expats moving from one country to another, often they have children who have started school.

So they move from country to country after money... hum... lol.

We are know that at the bottom of the ladder companies make the labourers pay for their tickets, visa costs and insurance.

And so a company should pay this? Im sorry, but I dont get paid gas money to drive the 6 minutes to work, a foreign national should get ZERO to work here. You want that job, you come. Dont want to? Dont. Simple.

You mean you want a system where all companies pay the same wages for the same post?

Where did you get that from in his post?

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