tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post3340151859932269741..comments2024-03-27T11:21:40.742+04:00Comments on Muscat Confidential: UAE experiments with unintended consequences: illegal to fire EmiratisUndercover Dragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577931944980469254noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-60087328308336329492009-02-21T12:04:00.000+04:002009-02-21T12:04:00.000+04:00TML:Charged you 7-10??? are you sure you were not ...TML:<BR/><BR/>Charged you 7-10??? are you sure you were not high from the glue, the meter issue is not the taxi drivers problem, that's an issue that police or municipality has to address (I agree it's stupid not to have a meter).<BR/><BR/>Now if we only had European taxi drivers, our fares would have come down drastically and their sex offers will decrease. (yeah right)<BR/><BR/>By the way I noticed Omani taxi drivers are very funny and full of life, compare them to the grumpiest taxi drivers in the world, the Europeans. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Rideless in Ruwi:<BR/><BR/>Sounds to me a case of topless in Ruwi, stop boosting yourself by mentioning that taxi drivers are interested in making advances on you. That does not change the fact that you are just .....<BR/><BR/><BR/>What amazes me is:<BR/><BR/>how dissatisfied you people are with the overall issues raised about the local issues in Oman. I can never live in a country where I hate the system, procedures or work ethics. What's keeping you people glued to Oman????<BR/><BR/>I have all the respect for all the foreigners in my heart and I highly appreciate the years they have given to help and assist Omanies in building Oman. I don't mind constructive criticism at all, but people here seem to pick on everything that's Omani and just criticize it!!!!<BR/><BR/>We have a European manager in our company and I have to say he is an angel (compared to you guys), he complains to me about some of the stupid stuff, but he always offers solutions and ideas on improving the solutions.<BR/><BR/>To me most of you sound like very old ladies sitting on their butts doing nothing but complain. Like these people who complain about polluted beaches, but never take the step of starting to clean themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-80426095618551753202009-02-21T02:46:00.000+04:002009-02-21T02:46:00.000+04:00Noseyguy.Had to post comment 50 or there would be ...Noseyguy.<BR/>Had to post comment 50 or there would be an unacceptable level of expat posting!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-53890785506625250202009-02-21T00:48:00.000+04:002009-02-21T00:48:00.000+04:00Overheard by NoseyguyHello dear do you want to rid...Overheard by Noseyguy<BR/>Hello dear do you want to ride 1 km? It’s free if you sit in front and close. Where are you going? I know it is hot and I am smoking – that is why the window is open. Hey I thought you were that UD in drag but you are only a maid. Fare is 15 RO and you have to push Taxi to start and show me where this Bonk Discreet . If not near my home you can get out now! My meter is nearly at 50 while you have been sitting here, 10 RO to get out..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-21936034357894199352009-02-20T21:18:00.000+04:002009-02-20T21:18:00.000+04:00I'm noting two things:1. Our resident twa- I mean ...I'm noting two things:<BR/><BR/>1. Our resident twa- I mean expert, Mr T, remains silent when questioned on the taxi issue. Perhaps more of his facts are fictitious too?<BR/><BR/>2. This blog post has nearly 50 comments :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-11000456775825491842009-02-20T16:36:00.000+04:002009-02-20T16:36:00.000+04:00Not to beat on such an obvious point, but: workin...Not to beat on such an obvious point, but: working well? Beyond the meter question, which is significant, and the cost, which is more so, try getting a cab late at night. Or in the early morning. Or getting a driver to go somewhere off the beaten track. Most of all, try taking one if you're a single woman. If that's a sector that's working well as a result of Omanization, heaven help us from one that has some problems...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-10565021921983287832009-02-20T13:24:00.000+04:002009-02-20T13:24:00.000+04:00Mr. T Really, come ON. Taxi's working well here? W...Mr. T <BR/><BR/>Really, come ON. Taxi's working well here? Where there is no meter in the cab and the driver has the freedom to charge whatever they like? Stop off at a gas station along the way and ask you to pay for his fuel? How is that working?<BR/><BR/>A cab in Dubai from Deira to Mall of the Emirates is about 50 Dhs, here, a ride in a taxi from Qurum to MCC will cost you anything from 7 to 10 rials depending on who you are. The truth is, I still don't know a fair rate. Taxi's here should be metered, and not allowed to just stop anywhere they choose to (for example... the highway).<BR/><BR/>Taxi's should have meters in them, pure and simple.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-3480403897937755842009-02-19T20:36:00.000+04:002009-02-19T20:36:00.000+04:00Muscati:Also look at taxi drivers who are 100% Oma...Muscati:<BR/><BR/>Also look at taxi drivers who are 100% Omani, now imagine if that was not the case and the government decided to Omanize it. You will hear everyone here crying about how they will not be getting any taxis because Omanies wont work on official holidays and that it's impossible to Omanize it.<BR/><BR/>Well guess what it's fully Omanized and it is working well :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-20275081773804382992009-02-19T19:15:00.000+04:002009-02-19T19:15:00.000+04:00Of course I know that the official goal of Omaniza...Of course I know that the official goal of Omanization is not the exclusion of expats, just as I know that realistic Omanis know that there is a place for foreigners in the society. <BR/><BR/>What I was thinking of is the feeling, slight here but growing, that some Omanis do indeed look toward an expat-free future, which is in sharp contrast to the realities of local development, much of which does seem predicated on ever-growing numbers of foreigners, many quite affluent. To attract them - to the Wave, to the massive new Tilal complex, to the development in Qurum Heights, more modestly to Ruwi Old Towne, and to all the other present and future such complexes, at some point thought is going to have go into giving them some kind of stake in the society that's more than a five-year or so window of employment. Manual laborers, domestics, etc., can be thought of as disposable as long as there are developing and undeveloped economies; the haute bourgeois, not so much.<BR/><BR/>And that's going to be an interesting sticking point, although one I think Oman will weather better than its neighbors.Muscatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04657061324487851341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-72498190612164666572009-02-19T17:26:00.000+04:002009-02-19T17:26:00.000+04:00One has to ask how diff would the replies been if ...One has to ask how diff would the replies been if the law stated that no expat can be fired on the excuse of the financial Meltdown?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-52231791565685911632009-02-19T11:46:00.000+04:002009-02-19T11:46:00.000+04:00To clarify:The UAE law became official today. It m...To clarify:<BR/><BR/>The UAE law became official today. It makes it illegal to fire a national if you still employ an expatriate doing the same job. It is not illegal to fire a national if you have a valid reason to fire him/her. But if the only reason is downsizing, then you may not fire the nationals if you are keeping foreigners with the same responsibilities as the nationals who are losing their jobs.<BR/><BR/>To all the expats debating the issue here:<BR/><BR/>No one in Oman wants the country to become expat free. The country's aim is to increase the percentage of Omanis who are employed. The goal isn't 100% Omanization.<BR/><BR/>Look at the banking sector. Omanization has been at 90% for over a decade. When Omanization of banks was first announced in the 80's no one believed it was achievable. But it worked, didn't it? The key is education and training. Banks have Omanis working in all levels of responsibilities. At the bottom layer, Omanization is 100%. I don't think there's a single branch of any bank in Oman that still has expatriates working as tellers, clerks or even branch managers. But banks still hire expatriates. Hundreds of them, but in totality, all of them don't add up to even 10% of the total employees in the banking system.<BR/><BR/>The houses in The Wave, Mr. Muscato, are built for the highest paid expats. The vast majority of the expats in Oman working in manual labor or low paying white collar jobs. It's here that the government is pushing its Omanization policy.muscatihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15955758251080080159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-63358457259001296782009-02-18T14:04:00.000+04:002009-02-18T14:04:00.000+04:00Interesting point, Muscato. Maybe the locals with ...Interesting point, Muscato. Maybe the locals with that dream would be happy to accept a certian number of expats in their country, as long as the locals are fully in charge of both the public and private sector, have the best jobs and best salaries, best social benefits, higher legal status, and as long as the expats simply do all the hard/difficult/dirty work and obviously have no rights whatsoever. Of course without discrimination, disdain or disrespect to anyone...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-51705420925904444732009-02-18T08:34:00.000+04:002009-02-18T08:34:00.000+04:00Mr. T is claiming that he is the only guy coming o...Mr. T is claiming that he is the only guy coming out with numbers. The fact is there is hardly any published reliable data on unemployment and employment statistics. Unless there is reliable data how can one talk about numbers. What we have is feel good numbers published by TOO.<BR/><BR/>It is a fact that that all countries/politicians fight for reserving jobs for their nationals. In fact in India, different states are fighting for reserving jobs for people of that state only and shut out guys from other states. <BR/><BR/>We are very fortunate that foreigners are safe in Oman and we should thank all Omanis for that. <BR/><BR/>Mr. T has to realise that had these poor Indians/Bengalis /SriLankans not come here and toiled for the pittance they were given, you will rather be travelling on a donkey or camel. <BR/><BR/>No local guy even today is ready to work in the construction/infra structure sector. They are giving poor service in those areas reserved for them like delivery of gas and driving school buses. Gas delivery boys drive very rash and behave so rudely that most people are getting gas from illegally supplied Indians. There were instances of misbehavior towards women in the house when they were alone. Due to rash driving schools are forced to keep an Indian in the bus to keep them in control. <BR/>Unless Omanis in higher position themselves trust their people expats will continue to thrive here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-22719240230347326262009-02-18T07:37:00.000+04:002009-02-18T07:37:00.000+04:00I love being lectured by expats, after their finan...I love being lectured by expats, after their financial system’s have clearly failed. How to run country is our business, you mess yours, don’t mess up ours <BR/><BR/><BR/>Mr. T you well said, Lazy Omanis and expats should go, but Omanis MUST be replace as % in the company….. Imagine Obama declaring a bill worth billions to support foreigners and creating jobs for them??????? <BR/><BR/>Mr. T, however I disagree with you on branding people that is not right even though I don’t agree with their views, each country must protect and create jobs for its own people….<BR/><BR/>Now with nationalization, that is a different subject and yes I do know a few nationalized Omanis………..<BR/><BR/>I like expats and I am not even full Omani but if you think that creating jobs for expats is the goal of our government, then we have an issueColOmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10782246242397086830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-34397389795332519172009-02-18T07:36:00.000+04:002009-02-18T07:36:00.000+04:00This comment has been removed by the author.ColOmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10782246242397086830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-18837199134732187212009-02-18T00:41:00.000+04:002009-02-18T00:41:00.000+04:00Just to add to what I said above, in the long run,...Just to add to what I said above, in the long run, Omani's might lose more jobs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-64149286432018676232009-02-18T00:40:00.000+04:002009-02-18T00:40:00.000+04:00Why do Omani/UAE companies have to employ expatri...Why do Omani/UAE companies have to employ expatriates in the first place? Is there a lack of skills in Oman/UAE? If there is, then the governments should act on it. Build good universities/schools (which I believe they are doing, at least in Qatar)<BR/><BR/>Now, if a company is forced to fire an expatriate over a local, it needs to be taken into context.<BR/>If I had an omani manager and an expatriate manager, both doing more or less the same thing, then I would fire the expatriate (would be cheaper), now if the managers were doing 2 different things and the expatriate had niche skills, then I am sorry but I would keep the expatriate. <BR/><BR/>Now, if I was forced to keep Omani workers, that would question the sustainability of my business. I would rather shut shop and file for bankruptcy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-25093397881688357132009-02-17T22:07:00.000+04:002009-02-17T22:07:00.000+04:00Nice to have the adults visit occasionally Muscato...Nice to have the adults visit occasionally Muscato.<BR/><BR/>Nice point.Undercover Dragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10577931944980469254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-16514206343590422862009-02-17T21:43:00.000+04:002009-02-17T21:43:00.000+04:00Ahahahahahah!Ahahahahahah!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-89812761200158686112009-02-17T17:52:00.000+04:002009-02-17T17:52:00.000+04:00The conversation as a whole illuminates to me what...The conversation as a whole illuminates to me what has always been the great question of Dubai, and to a much lesser extent even of Oman: why would people who have a dream of someday restoring their mono-culture base their development on external populations? <BR/><BR/>If Omanization were to truly push expats out of the local market (and I'm not holding my breath), who, pray tell, is supposed to live in The Wave and other (now probably mostly phantom) developments? Whom did Dubai, Inc. think was going to live in all those tens of thousands of flats and villas, once people realize they have nothing more than a fleeting, economically driven stake in the place?<BR/><BR/>Either you're part of the global future, or not; having it both ways can only work so long, as the UAE is learning...Muscatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04657061324487851341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-31715169928594479922009-02-17T15:26:00.000+04:002009-02-17T15:26:00.000+04:00Unbiased Mr.T says: "..this is in the best interes...Unbiased Mr.T says: "..this is in the best interest of Oman..". Is it really? Isn't this exactly what is being questioned here?<BR/>The best interest of Oman (and any other country) would surely be to have educated, well trained, reliable, efficient, motiviated, hard working and competitive local employees.<BR/>That is, by the way, also exactly what these private companies would like to see in Oman.<BR/>And even you, Mr.T, might in that case get exactly what you want: all those much hated expats will leave the country and you can have it all for your own people! What more can you possibly want?<BR/>Any other frustrations you would like to vent here? Plenty I assume (judging by your postings)...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-85935368229674080372009-02-17T14:40:00.000+04:002009-02-17T14:40:00.000+04:00The Austrian will not get away with simply being d...The Austrian will not get away with simply being deported, that's for sure! And, even more sure, his victims will get all support / help they might need. Don't think lashes would be part of that support though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-133907064965089832009-02-17T12:44:00.000+04:002009-02-17T12:44:00.000+04:00Anonymous:No you can't that job is already taken b...Anonymous:<BR/><BR/>No you can't that job is already taken by me :) but the Austrian is still waiting for his verdict that would suite you well.<BR/><BR/>come down crashing again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-14952064585970875372009-02-17T12:40:00.000+04:002009-02-17T12:40:00.000+04:00Objective:It's obvious that I'm the only one that ...Objective:<BR/><BR/>It's obvious that I'm the only one that brings any numbers and statistics to this discussion. Whenever i bring these statistics most of you start twisting their points into something unrelated to the issue of localization of jobs. Where are your numbers????<BR/><BR/>This is in the best interest of Oman, and I got tired explaining how and why. If you feel any kind of injustice (a taste of your own medicine) please feel free to give your job to the next Omani in line. Farewell you won't be missed.<BR/><BR/>Justcurious:<BR/><BR/>I really respect what you wrote and it's very well put together.<BR/><BR/>Abdul MT:<BR/><BR/>"Plenty of work around, but where are the locals willing to, and capable of, filling these positions??"<BR/><BR/>Please be patient, allow them the time to train, gain skills and discipline. Only then would they be able to perform. <BR/><BR/>Anonymous lurker:<BR/><BR/>Good for you and them, if you have not settled yet in either, better catch up as Oman becomes more strict with localization you will lose your job.<BR/><BR/>This is Oman people take it as it is (i will take this opportunity to call it the Omani dream)<BR/><BR/>Simply said. By Mr. TAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-34513077686482319852009-02-17T12:01:00.000+04:002009-02-17T12:01:00.000+04:00Can I please volunteer for the job of lashing the ...Can I please volunteer for the job of lashing the 'judges' who sentenced those victims and for lashing all others who consider this to be justice? Please please please...?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283845125208268798.post-25553046180476387252009-02-17T11:17:00.000+04:002009-02-17T11:17:00.000+04:00Justcurios, you say that "..UAE has fewer emiratis...Justcurios, you say that "..UAE has fewer emiratis to run the show and that is why business is dominated by cheaper foreigner viz. Indians, Bengalis etc...". As if you could actually find any emirati that would be prepared to do the jobs these foreign workers are doing! To a lesser extend, the same is valid in Oman. Plenty of work around, but where are the locals willing to, and capable of, filling these positions??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com