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Overhead tanks deliver scalding water

THE onset of summer in the UAE can be felt not just out in the open but also inside air-conditioned homes.

Several callers on Khaleej Times Hotline have pointed out that come summer and water from the overhead tanks in most residential apartments in Dubai (surely across the UAE) turns scalding hot. One caller, a woman who wishes not to be identified, made an interesting suggestion to solve the problem. She suggested that landlords, who hike rents each year, should instal a 'gadget' to keep water in the tank at 'room temperature'.

Reply

WHILE the problem is indeed a major inconvenience for members of the public, the solution lies not in the installation of some 'gadget' to keep water at room temperature but a more simple insulation cover or styrofoam shade for overhead water tanks.

An official at Dubai Municipality explained that if occupants of an entire building are affected by the problem, it is up to them to approach the landlord or the real estate agency that manages the building and request for the same.

He pointed out that since the solution was cheap and simple, it could even be carried out by any maintenance staff.

Lost job before starting it; certificates too!

KHALEEJ TIMES received a complaint from Manisha saying that she had lost her new job even without having to work for a day. She said that she received a call from the head office of Emirates Computer in Abu Dhabi for the interview for the post of customer relations officer.

She underwent training, but there was what she said a misunderstanding on the job itself. She was told at a later stage that she was no longer needed by the company and that her work visa is to be cancelled.

"I was not allowed to work for even a day for that matter even an hour," she said in her complaint to Khaleej Times Hotline.

Manisha said that when she asked about her original certificates after signing the termination letter, she was told that they are at the Labour Ministry.

She insisted to get the certificates back and yesterday approached the Labour Ministry's office in Dubai with a fresh complaint.

She was given an appointment to investigate her claims.

Reply

KHALEEJ TIMES spoke to Ali Hajj, Manager, Human Resources, at Emirates Computers. He said that Manisha was on probation (getting training) and employers have the right to terminate the contract during the probation period, as every one is aware, if the employee's performance was not satisfactory.

The problem now is she wants her certificates back.

“The company had paid costs for her visa and when the cancellation phase starts, the Labour Ministry will ask for 'reference' for the labour card,” Hajj said, adding that the card had not yet been handed over to the company, thus the cancellation process is delayed.

“The company had already approached the ministry to speed up the matter or find a solution,” he clarified, stressing that next week he will work on the issue further to settle it.

He said the company and the person in question want the matter resolved as soon as possible, but the delay is from the labour authorities. The company PRO will explain to the Labour Ministry that Manisha is in a hurry to go back home or seek another job and that her case has to be settled fast, he promised.

Dubai taxi drivers refuse to go to Sharjah

BHAVNA Shetty, who lives in Sharjah, has complained that no taxi driver was willing to take her from Dubai to Sharjah during peak hours.

“I waited for over two hours to get a taxi but no driver stopped to take me to Sharjah saying that there was too much traffic,” said Bhavna. She also said that taxis with a Sharjah number plate, do not ferry passengers from Dubai to Sharjah because that is illegal. “Several taxi drivers first refused to take me to Sharjah saying that there was too much traffic, Secondly, Sharjah taxi drivers preferred to take an empty vehicle to the emirate though there were many passengers. The drivers said that taking passengers from Dubai to Sharjah was illegal,” said Bhavna, protesting against the rule.

Reply

AMMAR bin Tamim, Director of Administrative Affairs at Dubai Transport Corporation said, “This complaint has been brought to our notice several times, but as a rule taxi drivers should not say 'no' to passengers at any time or place. In case anybody has a complaint against any driver, they should call DTC and lodge the complaint.”

He also accepted that it was illegal for a Dubai-registered taxi to pick up passengers from Sharjah, and vice versa. “This is a general rule set up by the corporations, and all taxi drivers have to follow it. There are several taxis to cater to the population, and so there should be no problem in general.”

Lizzy's dispute with water firm still unsolved

LIZZY, a complainant, who approached Khaleej Times Hotline last month with her problem, is still waiting for her dispute with water purifying company, Hydroprotec Technology in Dubai to be resolved. Lizzy alleged that the company had sold her its product and presented her security cheque for Dh5,500 to the bank despite having informed the company on the very next day that she was not interested in the purchase of the product.

The company had allegedly used her credit card number furnished by her and started to debit the monthly instalment of Dh450 regularly towards the purchase of the product which cost around Dh5,500.

The matter was reported to the police after the company refused to cancel the purchase contract even though the product was not delivered to the complainant's home.

Ahmed Kalanter from Dubai Police Human Rights Department who was handling the complaint had told Khaleej Times the department will try and resolve the problem peacefully without the two parties having to go to court. He had mentioned that the department will meet the two parties soon to reach a peaceful solution. But, the official has failed to resolve the problem even after a month since the matter was brought to his notice. The complainant claims she calls up the official daily but, there is no progress in the case.

Reply

LIEUTENANT Ahmed Kalanter, official from Dubai Police Human Rights Department when contacted has assured that the matter will be resolved but it is only a matter of time. He, however, did not disclose how much time was required by the department to resolve this case.