Recruitment posts that cross fair language guidelines often hide in plain sight.
Take a recent classified advertisement that sought an “office boy” and stated a preference for applicants from a particular country. Then there was the company that stipulated age ranges in their job posting or the listing by an employer who sought applicants from a single state in a specific country. The examples listed have all appeared in the past few weeks.
In each case, these are near blink-and-you’ll-miss-them transgressions that can cause distress and stir anger, but they often crop up, despite a strong regulatory framework being in place to prevent them. Article 4 of the UAE Labour Law prohibits “discrimination on the basis of gender, race, colour, sex, religion, national or social origin or disability”. Officials have also previously told The National that “prejudicial discrimination has no place in the conditions of employment, nor in wider society”, leaving little room for doubt about what is fair usage and what is not.
Several years ago, this news organisation reported on the case of the children’s nursery that sought to employ teachers of “European origin and white skin”. The story drew a great deal of attention and comment, and the entity subsequently removed the job post, which had initially appeared on social media. Years before that, we reported on a listing for a receptionist that said only applicants from a small basket of specific countries need apply and, in addition, listed gender and appearance requirements for interested candidates. It drew similar ire.
With the luxury of hindsight, we can see these are two extreme examples that are less likely to occur nowadays, but other micro-transgressions do crop up with regular cadence, as the examples listed earlier illustrate.
While most of us will feel uncomfortable when we bump up against such practices and recognise them for what they are, we may be left wondering why they persist.
One reason is that some market conditions may end up unwittingly prompting wrongful prescriptiveness rather than preventing it.
The National reported this month that hiring activity had increased in the third quarter of this year across the country and with about 200,000 people moving to the UAE every year, job seekers could outnumber available roles.
Those people arrive in a country with an already extremely diverse population and employment landscape, with residents originating from almost every point on the planet, essentially offering employers maximum choice. Given the relative abundance of candidates competing for a finite number of roles, we may see employers becoming more specific in requirements for a position, which may in turn lead to listings that breach regulations.
Recruitment ads are unlikely to ever become truly bias free
Another part of the problem is that the examples here are only what we can see and recognise as being wrong.
Other more subtle infractions might be at work in the vernacular language of recruitment postings, such as references to candidates needing to be multi-taskers and self-starters, being able to work well under pressure or be technologically native. A piece in the Financial Times earlier this year pointed out these are “red flags that frame troublesome workplace features as positive” and said the use of these terms was increasing in frequency in postings.
Crucially, they don’t constitute bad practice but may be harbingers of it. A hard-baked cynical contrarian may say that much of the language used in those seemingly problematic ads is “real-world shorthand” for conveying the details of an organisation’s prevailing culture and not challenging at all.
However, a recent academic study published in the Journal of Labour and Economy used text from more than 10,000 job listings globally to conclude that job ads that use either subtle or overt discriminatory language are key indicators of discrimination in practice.
By far the simplest way to tackle the issue is for platforms to take down or fix ads at source. Intervention and education at ground level is almost always preferable to relying solely on formal regulation. The storm kicked up by the nursery advert several years ago, for instance, was settled by corrective action after platform users and readers had reacted so strongly to what they had seen. That is a powerful argument in favour of informal policing of this space.
Big tech may also hold the key. The great promise of artificial intelligence could help turn the tide, allowing for accurate, fast analysis of postings and to advance and articulate evidence-based responses to the issue. Naturally, large language models will need to recognise bias when they see it.
Employers should also work to filter out that red-flag language and take the time to understand why certain terms may be problematic.
Prospective employees should take heed, too. The digital age has democratised job application processes with one-click submissions making it easier than ever before to knock on hundreds of doors simultaneously, but that doesn’t mean you should. Time spent reading between the lines of what something says, and decoding what it means, is rarely a bad investment.
In practice, companies will always hire who they want, meaning recruitment ads are unlikely to ever become truly bias free – humans rarely are in anything we do – but all parties have a role to play in seeking to make the landscape as equitable as possible.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The 10 Questions
- Is there a God?
- How did it all begin?
- What is inside a black hole?
- Can we predict the future?
- Is time travel possible?
- Will we survive on Earth?
- Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
- Should we colonise space?
- Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
- How do we shape the future?
UAE squad v Australia
Rohan Mustafa (C), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Fahad Nawaz, Amjed Gul, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Muhammad Naveed, Amir Hayat, Ghulam Shabir (WK), Qadeer Ahmed, Tahir Latif, Zahoor Khan
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
SCHEDULE
December 8: UAE v USA (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 9: USA v Scotland (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 11: UAE v Scotland (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 12: UAE v USA (ICC Academy Oval 1)
December 14: USA v Scotland (ICC Academy Oval 1)
December 15: UAE v Scotland (ICC Academy Oval 1)
All matches start at 10am
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T
Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000
Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic
Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
