NEWS FROM THE UAE
SOURCE : THE NAIONAL
More than 1,000 fake sick notes signed
DUBAI - OCT 28: Doctors have been caught issuing fake sick notes to government employees to allow them to take their full 90-day allowance of sick leave.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has revoked the licences of two doctors who signed more than 1,000 sick notes each for civil servants without genuine reasons. Patients are usually charged Dh100 (US$27) for each note.
The problem has led to the creation of a new general medical committee that will scrutinise all sick leave taken by such workers.
Essa Kazim, director of DHA health regulation, said strong action against doctors was already helping reduce the illegal practice.
“We have already cancelled the licences of doctors for issuing unjustified sick notes, and I am not talking about one or two notes.
“In some cases it was in the thousands, because each sick note is chargeable. We see this a lot but it is decreasing since we have taken firm action.”
According to labour laws, employees who pass their probationary period and have worked for more than three months are entitled to up to 90 days of sick leave per year. They receive full pay for the first 15 days, half pay for the next 30 days, and no pay for the rest.
Government departments will now have to provide details to the medical committee about their employees’ sick leaves to make it easier to spot suspect sick notes.
The Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department alerted the DHA of two clinics issuing illegal notes after they noticed patterns in their workers’ sick leave.
Once such an alarm is raised with the DHA, the committee will be sent to investigate the claims. It will send its findings and recommendations to another committee, which will then decide what action should be taken against the doctor.
“Issuing false sick notes is not only illegal but it affects the community, the work force, productivity and society,” Mr Kazim said. “It may seem trivial but it can have quite significant implications.”
The cost of a sick note can differ between clinics but an average price is believed to be about Dh100 for government employees. Many clinics, when contacted by The National, said notes were free for non-government workers.
Sandy Khan, a human resources consultant in Dubai, said falsely taking sick leave hurts morale of those left at work as they picked up extra duties.
She also said that having staff continually taking false sick leave had a long-term impact, affecting staff training among other things.
Governor pledges ‘cushion’ for banks
ABU DHABI - OCT 28: The Central Bank governor, Sultan bin Nasser al Suwaidi, joined other GCC financial authorities in assuring depositors and investors that banks remain strong, on another day of stock market gyrations and concerns over the vulnerability of property values.
Mr Suwaidi warned that property prices could fall, but said: “UAE banks are cushioned. The banks are safe.”
His comments came as GCC central bankers and finance chiefs, meeting in Abu Dhabi, sought to calm worries about the health of banking systems in the region. Hamad al Sayyari, the head of the Saudi Arabia Monetary Agency, the kingdom’s central bank, said the government has poured about US$3 billion (Dh11bn) into bank deposits in the past two weeks. “Banks in reality are in an excellent position,” he said.
The Saudi equity index, the Tadawul, fell 4.1 per cent yesterday, and is down 50 per cent on the year.
Meanwhile, in Kuwait, Gulf Bank, a troubled institution Kuwait’s central bank stepped in to save on Sunday, sought to assure customers it was operating normally despite a rush of withdrawals early yesterday. The Kuwaiti central bank had appointed a supervisor for Gulf Bank’s treasury business after the lender was hit by losses from currency derivative trades. Some investors reacted with anger, urging the government to resign over its handling of the global crisis.
In the UAE, Mr Suwaidi said that the liquidity crunch in the banking sector was easing, but that the Central Bank was ready to do more. “Things are getting better and stabilising,” he said. “If there is a need we will do more.”
The Dubai Financial Market’s index fell 5.8 per cent, closing below 3,000, a level not seen since Feb 2005. The index has now lost more than 50 per cent of its value this year. The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange’s index fell two per cent, taking its total loss this year to 27 per cent. Leading losers included First Gulf Bank, Aldar and National Bank of Abu Dhabi.
According to Mr Suwaidi, banks have tapped about Dh7.5bn of emergency funds to cope with the credit market turmoil.
“Banks are using only 15 per cent of the Central Bank’s facility now,” said Mr Suwaidi. Over the past two months, the Central Bank has implemented a range of measures to shore up the financial sector. Deposits were guaranteed at all banks with significant operations and a Dh70bn liquidity facility was made available.
Mr Suwaidi added that even with this measured improvement, the Central Bank is in the process of examining the loans and advances of all banks by the end of the year to determine if “extra provisions” are necessary.
EmPost offers ID card registration
DUBAI - OCT 28: Residents are being invited to apply for the new identity card in post offices across the UAE.
Some 500,000 Emiratis and expatriate professionals have until Dec 31 to obtain a national ID card or lose access to health care and other government-related services, the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) said yesterday.
Emirates Post said applicants could receive help with registration forms by filling them in and handing them to a post office, where the forms will be checked. Envelopes for the forms cost Dh40 (US$11).
Applicants who make mistakes will be informed by text message and the forms can then be corrected over the telephone if possible.
Those applicants who complete the form correctly will be sent an appointment time telling them when they can attend the EIDA centre to complete the process.
Anyone enlisting the help of Emirates Post in their application could win one of three laptops, the company said.
Darwish al Zarouni, the chief executive officer EIDA, said the authority was pleased to enter into the partnership with Emirates Post.
The card will contain face and fingerprint scans, passport and driving licence details, address, residency status and qualifications. Registering costs Dh100 for adults and Dh50 for children.
Emiratis will face a fine of Dh1,000 if they miss the deadline.