Since the UAE visa amnesty began earlier this month, stories have emerged about a sub-section of society that is often silent. Some wish to return home without being fined but most are hoping to formalise their status and return to legal employment. The hundreds flocking to the nine amnesty centres include construction workers, receptionists, secretaries, restaurant staff, engineers and salespeople but the majority are domestic workers, some of whom who say they fled their jobs because of ill-treatment. While most families welcome domestic workers, some can end up in extremely difficult situations, leading to their escape without documentation or income.
It would, of course, be naive to assume that all breakdowns in the relationships between domestic staff and employers are the fault of the latter. Regardless, it is disquieting to learn that some have found their circumstances so untenable that they would rather surrender themselves to the mercies of the black economy.
But while the amnesty has thrown a spotlight on such tales, it should be remembered that the vast majority of migrant workers who come here in search of a better life find it and prosper. Communities in countries including the Philippines, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka benefit enormously from the money their compatriots send home, amounting to a total of Dh164.3 billion last year.
Economic migration is a reality of our globalised age and the UAE is neither alone in offering opportunities to overseas workers nor in experiencing problems. The United Nations estimates that around the world, 185 million people are working away from their home countries, of whom some eight million are believed to have been tricked or coerced into work. There is no getting away from the fact that some employers do take advantage of their staff. In the words of one domestic worker who emerged from the shadows this week: "If you respect me as a human being, I will respect you as a boss". Many of the issues faced by migrant workers in the UAE and elsewhere originate in their own countries, where unscrupulous recruitment agents tempt them with false promises. It is difficult to legislate for human nature but last year the Federal National Council took an important step, passing a draft bill framing the rights of domestic staff with provision for large fines and even jail sentences for employment agencies and employers.
This isn’t the first visa amnesty offered by the UAE – 340,000 illegal residents came forward in 2007 and 62,000 in 2013 – and it remains to be seen how many will have taken advantage of the current offer by the time it expires on October 31. The opportunity to rectify residency status and turn a new leaf is an important one and should be seized.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
GYAN’S ASIAN OUTPUT
2011-2015: Al Ain – 123 apps, 128 goals
2015-2017: Shanghai SIPG – 20 apps, 7 goals
2016-2017: Al Ahli (loan) – 25 apps, 11 goals
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
The%20specs
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The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
The finalists
Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho
Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson
Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)
Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid
Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
