NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE Dailies

Absconding workers: MoL issues resolutions

DUBAI — JUN 24: The Ministry of Labour (MoL) has passed two new resolutions dealing with absconding workers and transfer of sponsorships during the amnesty period.

Under the new resolutions No.389 and No.390, when a sponsor files an ‘absconding report’ at the Ministry of Labour during the amnesty period, the sponsor and the company will be exempted from the fines imposed for not applying or renewing the labour card. The ‘absconding report’ filed against a labourer can be cancelled with the employer’s approval and no ban or Dh10,000 fine will be imposed on the sponsor or the company. In such a case, the labour permit can be either cancelled or the labourer permitted to return to work for the employer.

If the labourer seeks cancellation of the ‘absconding report’, the ministry may approve of it without referring to the sponsor provided the report is proved to be ‘false’ or ‘malicious’.

Resolution No. 390 stipulates that workers seeking transfer of sponsorship under the amnesty will be exempted from the following conditions —  a valid labour card and residency status,  valid period required for transfer of sponsorship, no limit on the number of sponsorship transfers.

No fees will be levied on sponsors trying to transfer the sponsorship of workers without completing the minimum period of work requirement. Under the amnesty, all applications of transfer of sponsorships will also be exempted  from fines for delay or non-renewal of labour cards.

The approval of the ministry on the applications of transfer of sponsorship for illegal workers is valid for 15 days, if the labour card has expired or its validity is less than 60 days. The validity of ministry approval shall be for 60 days in any other conditions. The ministry may transfer the sponsorship of any illegal worker without referring to the sponsoring company for approval, if it finds out through the Labour Inspection Department that the company has been shut down or does not exist or is ‘bogus’ (not registered with the Economic Department).

The directors of labour permit departments and labour offices shall deal with sponsorship transfer applications within their respective jurisdictions. This resolution will be in force until September 2, 2007.

Commenting on the resolutions, Humeid bin Demas, assistant undersecretary at MoL, said, “The resolutions were issued by Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Abdullah Al Ka’abi to remove obstacles that could prevent illegal labourers from regularising their status. The exemptions are being given so that the labourer doesn’t have any excuse once the amnesty is over.”

KHALEEJ TIMES

Workers have right to demand air ticket

ABU DHABI – JUN 24: Since the start of the summer season, many workers wanting to go on leave have been facing problems with their employers and sponsors concerning their right to get air tickets or encashment.

Dwelling on this problem, Mona Al Raesi, director of Disputes Department in the Ministry of Labour (MoL) clarified that workers have the right to demand air tickets as per the contract they had signed with the sponsor, according to Mona Al Raesi, director of the Disputes Department at the Ministry of Labour (MoL).

Mohammad Adel, an accountant, said, “I have been working for three years without having taken annual leave and when I demanded my dues such as the allowances for annual vacation and the air ticket, the employer refused to give me my rights and agreed only to give me one-way air ticket.”

Commenting on the case, Al Raesi, said the worker can get air ticket after a period of time as is stated in the contract. “But, if the labourer did not travel to his country or took annual leave, he/she has the right to claim encashment of the tickets according to the rules and regulations of the company,” Al Raesi.

The labour law defined the workers’ right to seek encashment of annual leave.

Workers who resign before completing a year in service have no right to get air ticket. However, the employer should pay a month’s basic salary to the worker in case he resigns and leaves.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Online swindlers prey upon gullible people

DUBAI — JUN 24: While the Internet vastly increases opportunities to send long messages and letters to everyone, it also creates new opportunities for many online swindlers who prey upon gullible people.

Many Internet users in the UAE complain of receiving messages mostly from African and European people asking the account number to deposit cash that they don’t want to invest it in their country. The messages are sent in various forms, including humanitarian stories, or somebody working in a bank with access to unclaimed huge amount belonging to a deceased person.

In addition to this, there are some companies which claim to be based in the UK, and which send emails informing people about winning millions of pounds in a draw in which they have never participated. Once the recipient answers, they ask them to fill in his details which includes name, place of residence and account number. After this, a courier company based in the same place emails the recipient to either send 500-2,000 pounds to them as charges of delivery or to come down and take the draft or cheque. The swindlers who send such messages are proper online hackers who get email addresses online and want bank accounts information to make unauthorised transactions to defraud simple people who interact with them.

Here is a sample of the messages:

From Miss Jean Martins, Abidjan. Cote D’Ivoire.    Email:(jean_martinsa00000000@yahoo.fr

“Before the death of my father on September 2004, he called me and informed me that he has the sum of five million, seven hundred thousand United State Dollars.($57,00,000) he deposited in a private bank here in Abidjan Cote D’Ivoire. He told me that he deposited the money in my name, and also gave me all the necessary legal documents regarding this to be deposited with the Bank. I am just 23 years old and a university undergraduate and really don’t know what to do. Now I want an honest and GOD-fearing partner overseas who I can transfer this money with his assistance and after the transaction I will come and reside permanently in your country till such a time that it will be convenient for me to return back home if I so desire.”

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Dr Hamdi Polani, one of the victims, said, “In my case, an African lady sent very touching human story and I gave her my account number in a bank in Dubai and then later she tried to withdraw all of my money. The bank’s fraud department was understandably hesitant in releasing details of the compromise, but they were very quick in taking action. I’m not even sure that the offending party was the same lady who gained my account details to deposit her cash.”

Kundan Singh, an employee in ABN AMRO Bank, also talked about such mails. “I got a mail from some company from the UK stating that I have won some million pounds on a lottery. They also gave me a ticket number and some agent ID number. And then came the courier company asking me a sum of £1,000. These things are just to make fool of people and everyone should be careful,” he said. 

Salih Al Mutawa, director-general of Sharjah Police, said the police is currently studying ways to curb Internet piracy and frauds, adding that it’s not easy to control such crimes in which a victim has provided his personal information to a stranger.

 Due to recent increase in cases of Internet piracy and frauds, the Sharjah Police department is organising the fifth Middle East Information Technology Security Conference (METISC 2007). The conference, to be held shortly, will explore ways to confront the challenges of Internet crimes.

FRAUD ON THE NET
WHO
The swindlers who send such messages are proper online hackers who get email addresses online and want bank accounts information to make unauthorised transactions to defraud simple people who interact with them.

HOW
Once the recipients answer, the scamsters ask them to fill in their details, including name, place of residence and account number. After this, a courier emails the recipients to either send £500-2,000 to them as charges of delivery or to come down and take the draft or cheque.

WHAT NEXT
Due to recent increase in cases of Internet piracy and frauds, the Sharjah Police department is organising the fifth Middle East Information Technology Security Conference (METISC 2007) to explore ways to confront the challenges of Internet crimes.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Stardom knocks as Chinese woman lands dream role
 
 
SHARJAH - JUN 24: A young Chinese woman has been plucked from the obscurity of an office reception desk to star in an Indian movie.  Zhang Chu Min, 24, was working for a marketing company in Sharjah when her big break came. And her amazing rise to screen heroine could easily be the subject of another film.

Top Malayalam director Lal Jose approached her firm to help find a Chinese actress to play the female lead in Arabikatha (Arabian Tales), starring Srinivasan.

“I was the receptionist at Emirates Union China General Trading,” said Min, who moved to the UAE from Beijing three years ago.

“The director approached our boss to recruit a Chinese girl who could speak fluently in English and Chinese. The firm placed an advertisement in a leading newspaper in Dubai seeking Chinese actresses and there were many applications.” However, the director was not satisfied with any of the applicants’ language and acting skills and his attention turned to Min.

“He asked me whether I could act in the movie,” she added. “I was thrilled but initially my family was not keen.

However, I convinced them and decided to act. I am lucky to have been selected for the role,” she said.

Min, who never had any ambitions to become an actress, spent several months away from the reception desk shooting scenes in both the UAE and Kerala.

She knew little about the Indian state and did not speak any Malayalam, though she can now manage a few words. And she taught co-star Srinivasan a few words of Chinese, as well.

“Language was not a problem because in the movie I speak only English or Chinese,” she added. “Srinivasan is a humourous person and the other actors – Jayasurya, Salim Kumar and Jagathi Sreekumar – were equally good to work with.” Locations included Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The plot centres on political activist Cuban Mukundan – played by Srinivasan – who flees from Kerala to the UAE.

He takes up a series of jobs and finally a friend who comes to the UAE to search for him traces him to a farm. Min plays a trader in fake CDs.

Her performance has been praised by co-star Moideen Koya, who said: “She has done a good job in the movie.” Min added: “If I get another chance to act, I will definitely take it.”
 
 
EMIRATES TODAY

Dubai - Salik petition very popular

Dubai - Jun 24: Signatures on an online petition launched by Dubai residents to appeal against the new road toll system being implemented have almost doubled since its launch three days ago.

Less than two weeks before the introduction of Salik, at least two online petitions asking the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to rethink the tolls, due to begin on July, have been launched.
And yesterday one of the sites had received 6,031 signatures. Petitioners say the sites were inspired by the Jumeirah Beach issue where several people appealed to save the public beach area but last night the RTA, unavailable for comment, looked unlikely to change the planned implementation date.

SEVEN DAYS

No liquids, gels in hand baggage

ABU DHABI — Jun 24: Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) will from June 30 implement new aviation security measures restricting the quantity of liquids, aerosols and gels in hand-baggage, it was announced here yesterday.

The ADAC, which manages the airports of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, has advised passengers to pack all liquid, aerosol and gel items not required during their flight in their check-in luggage.

Further, liquids, aerosols and gels required during the flight should be packed in accordance with the new restrictions, before passengers arrive at the airport.

According to the new rules, all liquids, aerosols and gels must be in containers of not more than 100ml each. Liquids, aerosols and gels in containers larger than 100ml will not be allowed, even if the container is partially-filled.

Containers must be placed in a transparent resealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of one litre. These containers must fit comfortably into the transparent resealable plastic bag.

Each passenger will be allowed to carry only one transparent resealable plastic bag, which must be presented separately for screening. Exemptions will be made for medicines, baby food and special dietary items.

Abu Dhabi International Airport authorities will deploy staff at Terminal 2 to provide assistance to passengers in order to comply with the new regulations.

However, there is no restriction on purchase of liquids,  aerosols and gels, including liquor and perfumes, at Abu Dhabi International Airport Terminal 2.

Passengers transiting or transferring to other airports should ensure that any liquids, aerosols or gels purchased at the airport are  sealed in tamper-proof bags by the shops, with the receipt clearly attached to the sealed bags.

In case of queries or doubts regarding purchases, passengers may seek assistance from shop staff.

For more information on the new rules, passengers can check with their respective airlines or contact Abu Dhabi International Airport 02-5052570 or log into http://www.adac.ae

KHALEEJ TIMES

MoH to establish diabetes centres

ABU DHABI — Jun 24: Diabetes centres will be set up in the Dubai and the Northern Emirates for providing curative and educational services to the public, according to a senior health official.

“Specialised centres for providing treatment as well as health education on diabetes will be established in Dubai and the Northern Emirates to face health hazards posed by prevalence of the disease in the UAE society,” said Nassir Al Bidoor, Assistant Under-Secretary for External Affairs and International Health at the Ministry of Health (MoH).

He said work has already completed at a diabetes centre in Dubai and it is now functional on a trial basis while the second centre will be set up within the coming four months in the emirate of Ajman at Shaikh Khalifa Hospital.

“A higher national committee, comprising members from public and private health authorities in the country will be formed to upgrade diabetic patients’ rehabilitation programmes and devise projects to enhance performance of the proposed centres,” said Bidoor.

He underlined that the latest national study on diabetes showed that the disease is spreading at the rate of 19.6 per cent,” making the UAE among the three countries with the highest rate of diabetes prevalence, “ observed Bidoor.

He said recent findings of the Gulf Committee on  Eradication of Diabetes had indicated that 20-25 per cent of citizens in the region were suffering from the disease.

Will power can control diabetes

ABU DHABI — Jun 24: Where there is a will there is a way! This adage suits him well. In fact, it was sheer strong will that helped 50-year-old Algerian professor to overpower his chronic ailment without the help of medications. The results amazed not just the patient but his doctor as well.

Dr Zin Eddine Dadach, professor in chemical engineering at Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi had suppressed his appetite and chose to go for diet to control his diabetes instead of taking pills to stabilise sugar in his blood.

“I was diagnosed in 2004 with diabetes type II and the doctor told me to either follow a special dietary system or take pills regularly. I decided to try food management. However I was not sure how effective the outcome would be,” said Dr Dadach told Khaleej Times.

Recalling his fruitful experience, he said that the first thing he did was to buy a glucometer to check glucose while fasting and two hours after each meal.

“I began educating myself on the disease. It is very important for patients to know about their disease and become doctors of their own,” he suggested.

He said he also used to consult dieticians and nutritionists for advice on the best diet for diabetics, and browse the Internet for recent studies and research on appropriate food that suited his health condition.

“Results of medical tests conducted this year showed amazing outcome. From 1.58 MG/DL in 2004, my sugar read 1.19 Mg/DL. I was very proud of myself and learned a lesson that if there is a strong will there is always a way,” said Dr Dadach.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Medical centres, clinics told to display service charges list

ABU DHABI — Jun 24: To control fluctuation of medical service charges, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has made it mandatory for private healthcare institutions in the country to display a list of medical service charges, a senior health official said.

“In a bid to make sure that private medical centres and clinics in the country do not resort to arbitrary hike in prices of services they provide, the MoH decided to ask them to clearly display at their facilities the prices of medical services for patients,” said Dr Ibrahim Al Qadi, director of Private Medical Practice Department in the MoH.

The official underlined that the decision is in response to a request by the Ministry of Economy to specify prices of treatment levied by the private sector so as to include them in the UAE Services Manual.

“The MoH has not yet fixed fees for medical services in the private sector, However, efforts are under way to come up with effective solutions to stabilise prices in this sector,” said Dr Qadi.

When contacted on the same issue, Dr Ali bin Shukar, undersecretary in the MoH reiterated that to control fluctuation of medical service charges his ministry will decide on the profit margin in fees levied on medical services in the private sector.

“We have taken tangible steps towards fixing a profit margin for fees imposed on health services in the private sector so as to stabilise prices of these services and control the market in a better way,” he told Khaleej Times.

The MoH seeks support from international expertise to control the financial variations in the private sector, he said. “We have already approached international health financial management institutions to provide us with the expertise we lack locally. These organisations will assist the ministry in studying the costs of curative services at the country’s level,” he added.

KHALEEJ TIMES