When the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation was created two years ago, over a half-dozen agencies were responsible for radiological material in the UAE. Now there is just one, and as The National reported yesterday, FANR is coming of age.
The disappearance of an industrial camera used to measure the density of metal - with the aid of a thumb-sized piece of radioactive iridium 192 - is reason to raise a concern. It is not, however, a cause for alarm. By all accounts, the UAE's nuclear watchdog is doing exactly what a watchdog should do: warn the public, hunt for the missing material and work to keep exposure to a minimum.
In this specific case it was the company using the gauge that reported the device missing. That in itself is a sign that the regulator's authority is increasing. The next step will be to see whether FANR has the ability - and the political support - to enforce penalties if necessary. To ensure that self-reporting continues, companies must believe that failure to report would be more costly than silence.
There are security concerns that nuclear material could fall into the wrong hands. The far more likely scenario, however, is that it poses a hazard to environmental safety and health. Should sealed containers be forced open - say crushed in a landfill, for instance - people who come in close contact could become sick.
A thumb-sized piece of iridium is a fairly minor threat. In the US, more than 300 sealed sources of radioactive material - from small medical devices to industrial gauges - go missing every year. And the International Atomic Energy Agency counts hundreds of cases around the world annually. Many are never recovered.
This case should be seen as a litmus test for the UAE regulator and the industry - of course, we hope the iridium is recovered, but more important than a single case is FANR's transparent, comprehensive response. In coming years its portfolio will grow more complex as the nation's civilian nuclear programme moves towards commissioning.
About 80 per cent of companies in the UAE that use radiological devices have applied for licences; clearly, registration should be 100 per cent. We will rely on FANR to accomplish that, among its growing number of tasks.
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Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
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Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues