RaviBg wrote:Nesoj, the article mentions the census is not of entire population but only of expatriate. It clearly mentions Percentage of expatriate workers in the UAE per nationality:
please see
"The other 11 per cent comprise UAE nationals."
UAE = 52 (Indians) + 10 + 6 + 5 + 13 + 3 + 11 (UAE Nationals) = 100% of population
Keshav wrote:Someone should look into the terrible living conditions, abuse, and dhimmitude Indian works suffer in UAE. I've heard its ridiculously rampant.
having lived in the UAE over 20 yrs.... may I give some 'Gyan'.
The worst employers in the UAE are the Indian and Pakistani businessmen, who clearly know from where these laborers are coming from and their need for employment. Everything in converted into Rs. For example they know an 'office boy' in India would earn X Rs/month and he would save Y Rs. What they offer is a salary, by which after deducting cost of living he would end with a saving of 2Y here. Next on the 'bad employer' list are the Palestinian or Egyptian owned companies. Local Arab companies (especially large groups are not so bad). Multinational Companies are the best. Again small companies often bundle up their workers into small rooms... dreadful living conditions. Also very much to blame are these Indian Managers who curry flavor with their bosses by managing to recruit (offering false promises) at the lowest rates possible. Most are hand in glove with recruitment agencies back home and take money from them on the sly (which in turn is taken from the laborers who just want to come to the ME. Really the major cause of mistreatment are the Indians themselves and not the locals, who generally keep themselves out of the picture.
Yogi_G wrote:you will be shocked to know that in the news article it was mentioned that Indian "maids" are preferred in UAE more than any other nationality...I was not sure how to react to that bit of info....

I don't think this is correct. The most expensive maids and a status symbol are the 'Filipinos' that are preferred by the westerners and arabs. The westerners prefer them due to similar lifestyles etc while the arabs (especially Lebanese) like to ape the westerners. Conservative arab families prefer Indonesians (muslim). Again Ethiopian / Eritrean maids also are high on list as most speak arabic. Indian maids are generally preferred by the Indian community but not by the others (unless they have no option), for reasons of food habits, language etc. Down on the list are the SL Tamil maids and BD maids. Salaries paid also follow this scale. Dhs 1300 - Dhs 1000 - Dhs 700 (+ accomadation + food) Worst, are again the Indians who personally go and recruit from their villages back home, offering ladies a chance to work in Dubai and save a 'fabulous' amount' of Rs 5000 (Dhs 400) per month. Unsuspecting maids come over at get < 50% of the going rate and often work 18 hrs a day, 7 days a week.
shyamd wrote:Yes, in the UAE and other arab countries, the local women prefer and often request for indian taxi drivers because they can't mess around. The Saudi drivers often hit on the women. In Oman for example, they prefer Indian maids compared to locals, simply because they are more trust worthy.
UAE women drive their own cars. Frankly speaking in 20 years, I've seen only a couple of times UAE women being driven around (that to only old women who can't drive on their own). As far as taxi's .... presumably I don't think you have spent much time here. You can't 'request' for Indian drivers, and no... you don't find 'Saudi taxi drivers'. Most taxi drivers are from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Syria, Yemen etc. Oman ... Indian maids.... maybe ? certainly would be 'much much' cheaper than locals, other than being trustworthy.
Suppiah wrote:
Wonder whether this qualifies to be called a tax free perquisite or more likely a occupational hazard..

It's called Russian Roulette..... if you are caught in Saudi, or for that matter suspected, then expect your head to be chopped of in the square after Friday prayers. (provided, you are not tortured and killed by the husband first ... no questions asked) The charge is rape and the only penalty - death
