Expats in Dubai yet to get promised raise in salaries

The raise for local government employees was announced by all the emirates following a similar announcement in Abu Dhabi, which took effect on May 1, 2005.

Sources confirmed that all local departments in the other emirates have effected the raise both for its nationals and expatriate employees.

While the UAE national employees in most local government departments in Dubai have confirmed receiving a 25 per cent raise in May-June, expatriate employees at the Dubai Municipality, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Economic Development Department, Department of Health and Medical Services, Emirates Post among others await receipt of their promised raise in salary.

An employee of Dubai Municipality told Khaleej Times that they have not received the raise announced earlier this year for all local government departments, while UAE nationals employees have been given the 25 per cent raise in May-June 2005.

“There was a lot of anticipation when the raise was announced, but it is yet to take effect. From what I have heard on the issue is that the raise will be given to expatriate employees in due course, but I am not sure if it would be done with a retrospective effect,” an expatriate employee at the civic body said.

She added that the welfare of employees, both UAE nationals and expatriates, was never an issue at the municipality, and expatriates are content despite the delay.

“It’s an organisation that takes care of its employees, and while there is a delay in the raise we were promised, I am sure it will be given in due course,” she said.

According to a source in Dubai Municipality, the announced 15 per cent hike in salaries of expatriates is likely to be effected in the next couple of months, but this has not been announced officially. The concerned official at the civic body was not available for comment on the issue.

Similarly, employees at DTCM, DED, Dohms have also expressed their anxiety whether the hike in their salaries will be implemented at all. “We hope the order is implemented soon,” hoped an expatriate employee at DED.

“The delay has only raised concern if at all the increase in expatriate salaries will get effected soon. But we have faith in the local department and the Dubai government and hope the decision is implemented soon,” pointed out a DTCM expatriate employee anxiously awaiting for the hike retrospectively.

The Human Resources officials at DED and DTCM when contacted refused to comment on the issue. However, they did disclose that the hike in expatriate salaries was awaiting the order of the higher authorities. “No sooner is the order received, the hike in salary will be implemented,” they said.

Meanwhile, Emirates Post Director General, Abdullah Al Daboos, clarified that since EP is an independent body under the federal government, the salary hike order does not apply to them. “We have only a year and half back, hiked up our staff salaries by 25 per cent,” he disclosed, adding that the postal organisation has to take into consideration the market situation, business opportunities available and the competition from private players in this field to implement a salary hike.

“However, revision of salaries at EP is based on regular analysis of the market situation and trends as well as annual profits. We do not discriminate between national and expatriate employees for a salary hike, he said, pointing out that EP is the only organisation which announces annual bonus and regular increments in salaries to its employees regularly.