Reforms proceed as work protests drop



DUBAI // The number of labour protests have more than halved in the first three months of this year, figures from the Higher Committee for Labour Crisis Management show.

There were 34 protests in this year's first quarter, compared with 69 in the same period last year, the figures released yesterday state.

For individual emirates, Abu Dhabi had 14, (down from 21 in the first quarter of last year); Dubai 10 (26); Sharjah six (10); Ras al Khaimah three (six); and Ajman one (three).

Umm al Qaiwain and Fujairah did not register any labour protests this year, having had two and one respectively in the first quarter of last year.

The head of the crisis management committee Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, who is also the chief of Dubai Police, said the main trigger for protests was delayed salaries.

"Fifty per cent of strikes took place because of delayed salary payments, while 30 per cent were due to salary increase demands and 20 per cent were registered for unpaid overtime," Lt Gen Tamim said.

The figures were released as the Minister of Interior, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, approved a plan by the committee to deal with labour issues across the country.

Gen Tamim welcomed the minister's approval, saying it proved the Government's commitment to labour rights and transparency.

"The committee works with complete transparency when it comes to labour rights in the country and has even taken into account the latest Human Rights Watch [HRW] report, which claimed that labourers do not have the right to lobby or protest, and face punishments if they strike," he said.

HRW issued its annual report in January.

"The report states that the labour law excludes domestic staff and has no minimum pay for them," said Lt Gen Tamim. "In fact, we have set up a special plan for domestic workers to protect their rights."

Last month the UAE was a signatory to an International Labour Organisation accord on the rights of domestic staff.

But no announcement has yet been made about how or when the convention's tenets, which include a mandatory day off each week and a minimum wage, are to be enacted into law.

Gen Tamim also pointed to an incident in May when hundreds of labourers headed from Sharjah to the Ministry of Labour in Dubai in protest against a company that had failed to pay their wages for six months. "The company owner was called to the ministry and referred to prosecutors to face charges," he said.

"All the salaries have been paid and the employees who wanted to be repatriated were sent home, and the rest allowed to seek employment elsewhere."

Gen Tamim said the approved plan took into account the living conditions of labourers, as well as their health and safety.

It also sets up a system for labourers to register complaints.

"We aim to resolve the labourers' disputes in a manner that will assure that their rights are met, while assuring the safety of the country's security," he said.

Under the plan, authorities will respond to labour strikes within 15 minutes.

Specialists will arrive at the scene within 45 minutes to register the workers' demands and review their work conditions.

"Company managers will also be called to the site and an immediate decision will be made on the next steps," said Gen Tamim.

Once a decision has been made about what action to take, the crisis committee will release a press statement, he said.

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Top 5 concerns globally:

1. Unemployment

2. Spread of infectious diseases

3. Fiscal crises

4. Cyber attacks

5. Profound social instability

Top 5 concerns in the Mena region

1. Energy price shock

2. Fiscal crises

3. Spread of infectious diseases

4. Unmanageable inflation

5. Cyber attacks

Source: World Economic Foundation

What are NFTs?

Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.

You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”

However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.

This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”

This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.

The specs: 2018 Maxus T60

Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000

Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder

Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm

Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed manual

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE

Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)

Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder

Gearbox  Nine-speed automatic

Power 245hp @ 4,200rpm

Torque 500Nm @ 1,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km

Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

WHAT ARE NFTs?

     

 

    

 

   

 

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are tokens that represent ownership of unique items. They allow the tokenisation of things such as art, collectibles and even real estate.

 

An NFT can have only one official owner at one time. And since they're minted and secured on the Ethereum blockchain, no one can modify the record of ownership, not even copy-paste it into a new one.

 

This means NFTs are not interchangeable and cannot be exchanged with other items. In contrast, fungible items, such as fiat currencies, can be exchanged because their value defines them rather than their unique properties.

 
Ticket prices

General admission Dh295 (under-three free)

Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free

Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets

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Hotel Silence
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Pushkin Press

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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
Why your domicile status is important

Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born. 

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm) 
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm) 
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm) 
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn  (4.30pm) 
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm) 
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)

Sunday, May 17

Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)

Monday, May 18

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)

Company%20Profile
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