Some contractors say Dubai should be considered a hardship market again
An HR director for a leading contractor has announced they are looking at reinstating ‘hardship’ allowances in order to attract top talent back to the Gulf.
Speaking at the Construction Week Conference in Dubai, Halcrow HR director Rhyan Anderson said that redundancies in the region had rendered markets such as Dubai unattractive to expat talent in places such as Europe and the US.
“People are very about coming back over to the Gulf,” she said. “They’ve had the experience of having to pay 12 months’ rent in advance. They know that because of the employment law, they’re exposed to more personal risk. We expect to have to go back to hardship allowances and finding creative packages into key roles.”
Story continues below
Advertisement
FEATURED COMMENT
I like the idea of Mr. Anderson, two thumbs-up for you. However, The real question now is who among the stakeholders wou
Anderson said that contractors would need to start looking at interim contracts, currently used frequently in Europe, in order to prove security for workers.
“Interim contracts have never really been used here before, but the idea of a job for life has gone for good now,” she said. “Those interim contracts will need to include things like accommodation packages.”
Page:
1
Readers' Comments
(Feb 18, 2010)
United Kingdom
When
I like the idea of Mr. Anderson, two thumbs-up for you. However, The real question now is who among the stakeholders would take initiative in this greedy world.
nafees (Feb 13, 2010) dubai United Arab Emirates
Lucrative offer for the RIGHT..!
Why 'die' for a 'dead'present and a 'bleak'future with no job guarantee..? 'Hats-off' to the 'bloom' days of realestate market proliferation.!Globally , we have made ourselves down in the eyes of the "WORLD". Easy to DESTROY..But difficult to build-up®ain the GONE glory of Dubai!The MORE 'high rise'we go, the MORE 'downfall'we are in..! Infrastructure/Energy sector are the keys for GCC success in these ECONOMIC TURMOIL times...!
m (Dec 8, 2009)
dubai
I think Rhyan, has a valid point and if it were not for the outside educated non nationals assisting in building Dubai, there would be no ability to train locals. Obviously Ahmed has not been one of many people, whom have had to leave with nothing, due to the lack of employee protection. To build a country it takes many talented individuals whom have experience and people with a vision, one can not survive without the other, but not to protect those whom have helped you grow when there are bad times is not human. Too big too fast is the reality.
Rob (Nov 10, 2009)
United Arab Emirates
What?
A large number of ex-pats were told at 5pm not to come back to work the next day. They were left with year leases, car payments, loans and cancelled VISAS.
They woke up and realised there is no job security or employment law to protect them in the Middle East. They have returned to their home countries and spread the word. Anybody who returns now will be far wiser and more demanding.
John (Nov 8, 2009) Dubai United Arab Emirates
What?
Ahmed, I'm sorry you clearly have not read the article or understand what she is saying. She did not say that Dubai was a bad place to live she said that people will be insecure about the region because of the crash so many people lost their jobs so it constitutes an unstable market (in their eyes). As for your remark "but if we now have less whining westerners and more, better qualified people native to the region working that's much better" What a ridiculous comment! Westerners were asked to come to this country to help with the building of the country due to their experience over many years in their native lands. As for the whining part... sounds a bit like you were the whining one when more Westerners were here!
Ahmed (Nov 4, 2009)
What?
what? this woman has no clue. dubai is the best place in the world to work, it has world-class villas, great schools and lots of malls to go shopping in. working in dubai is a privilige not a hardship, but if we now have less whining westerners and more, better qualified people native to the region working that's much better, you can go on calling this place a hardship Ms anderson.
Site Map
\
FEATURED COMMENT
I like the idea of Mr. Anderson, two thumbs-up for you. However, The real question now is who among the stakeholders wou