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A work permit that allows older teenagers to get their first part-time job will give them much-needed workplace skills and a lesson in the value of money, employment experts said.
The federal decision to allow children aged 15 and over to get a job was among a series of measures unveiled by the government on Sunday.
Existing visa rules made securing a job before university age almost impossible - but that is set to change.
Chandini Misra, head of the senior school at Repton Al Barsha, one of Dubai's top private schools, said young people need to experience the workplace much earlier.
This will be a great opportunity to get job experience, and also a chance to earn a little bit of money, that I can put forward into my business ideas
Oliver Wright
"Experiencing work at this age is a fantastic way for young people to harbour increased independence and a sense of responsibility," she said.
"They can develop key skills such as time management and prioritising, allowing for effective preparation for full-time employment."
Jenny Mollon, from WhichSchoolAdvisor.com, added: "Up until now teens in UAE haven't had the chance to have part time work that is paid.
"Paid part-time employment helps young people to understand the value of money, it helps them learn how to budget, and it is also requires them to make a long term commitment to their work colleagues."
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has opened applications for juvenile work permits, which a company can apply for a fee starting at Dh100. On approval there is a Dh500 fee.
A game-changer
Recruitment consultant David Mackenzie said he expected strong interest, though it would take time for the job market to change.
"You're going to get these kids turning up in bike shops, in retail places - they're going to be in Wild Wadi and other tourist attractions," said Mr Mackenzie, managing director of Mackenzie Jones.
"They're introducing into the workforce, educated bright, intelligent people who already live in the UAE. For young people, it's a game-changer."
Teenagers in most industrialised countries are allowed to start work from the age of 15, although employers are required to follow more stringent regulations regarding working hours, breaks and health and safety.
First-time jobs traditionally include simple service sector roles such as shelf-stacking in supermarkets and waiting in cafes, or cleaning up in kitchens.
Naim Maadad, a Dubai-based restaurateur, said he would hire teenagers to work in his restaurants, but he expected it to take a few years for parents and children to get used to the change.
"There's a mind-shift that needs to take place. Parents need to be reassured that their children are safe with the employer, and the youngsters need to get used to the idea of working for their own money, rather than just relying on income from their parents," said Mr Maadad, who is also a father of two daughters, Brooke and Sophie, aged 14 and 16.
"Also there's a transport challenge. In other countries teenagers can get their licence from 17, and can drive from A to B. Here there is limited public transport."
A rite of passage
In the EU, children aged between 15 and 18 who are no longer subject to compulsory full-time schooling under national law, can work up to eight hours a day and 40 hours a week.
In America, teenagers can work from 14 in non agricultural roles, and the government limits the number of hours under 16's can work. Young people under the age of 18 are also prohibited from being employed in hazardous occupations.
Part-time work in your teenage years is considered a rite of passage in the US, said Sarah Wright, 46, an American mother of three children aged 15, 13 and 8.
"When I was growing up in Atlanta, many well-to-do families insisted that their kids worked in the service industry, because they felt it was really important for them to see inside a restaurant or hotel, and to learn how to approach people," said the Dubai-based mother.
"We want our kids to understand all different parts of the economy and we just think it's really healthy to work, even if it's only 10 hours a week - just to get a feel for what it's like to have a boss and work colleagues.
"I know that not everyone is going to want their child to be working from age 15 - there's a lot of pressure for kids to spend their time studying or doing activities - but it's great it's an option."
Freedom to spend, or save
Mrs Wright's son, Oliver, said he would prefer a weekend job, so it would not interfere with his studies and free time.
"This will be a great opportunity to get job experience, and also a chance to earn a little bit of money, that I can put forward into my business ideas," he said.
"I wouldn't spend the money, I would save it and put it in stocks."
Thirteen-year-old Alexander Foussat, a pupil at North London Collegiate School in Dubai, said he would apply for a permit as soon as he was old enough.
"The new permit is great - it allows us young adults to experiment with our future professions - maybe give us some ideas, some experience that we can add to our university applications. It's like proof of maturity," he said.
"Also, the financial aspect is quite convincing, let's say if parents do not give you pocket money, then this gives you freedom to spend on what you want."
His mother Tina Foussat, said she supported her son's decision to want to find part-time work in his teens.
"Experience is important, and having real life experience is just as important as studying," she said.
"Even if we were super rich I would encourage my children to go out and work, because I want them to have their own adventures, and make up their own mind."
Education the priority
Universities and employers have long looked for more than good exam results on teenagers' CV's, with many top academic institutions requiring proof of work experience on their application forms.
"Degrees are becoming less and less important," said Mr Mackenzie, "Now, employers look for work experience, internships and apprenticeships, because they want faster results.
"The problem with some graduates, is that often they don't have any work experience so it takes them at least six months to understand how an office works.
"If you've got somebody who's been an intern, they come into the office, they know what to do. They know how to deal with people, how to do paper work and how to use PCs, so it's a much faster spin up for employers."
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EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
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Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
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What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
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• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
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Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
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2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis
2004 Beat Andy Roddick
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2012 Beat Andy Murray
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
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“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
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It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
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