Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Longer holiday for public sector

The papers are all carrying WAM's report on the upcoming Eid holiday.

Once again workers in the public sector get a longer holiday than those in the private sector. Fifty percent longer.

On the one hand we have government pushing Emiratis to join the private sector, on the other they offer better conditions in the public sector.

Hardly a co-ordinated strategy I would say.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

A co-ordinated strategy? Are U kiddin'?
Actually Emiratis one and only master
plan is to milk dry workers and tourists
to the very last drop of brainpower!

HE said...

Funny you post about this; I am an employee of a "semi-government" company, whatever that is these days.

We just got an e-mail saying Eid holidays are 2 days only as per the private sector rule.

However, when dealing with clients and investors - management always tell us to stand with a bat in hand and tell everyone that we are part of the goverment and that they should pay up immediately.

Anonymous said...

And who said that there is no contradiction in this!?
I guess no one and it is very obvioues that the post and the comments reflect a wake up slap on the face stating that we should be more honest when promoting ideas and at the same time not to widen the gap between work sectors or nationalities or community groups.

Anonymous said...

It's actually 100 per cent more - public sector are off Saturday-Tuesday, private sector Sunday and Monday only.

Anonymous said...

Funny you post about this; I am an employee of a "semi-government" company, whatever that is these days.

Oh us "Semi-Govt" employees always get the short end of the stick.

Emaratis that want to make a difference, who like what they do, who have drive, will work wehre they want regardless of leave or pay (As long as its decently in line)

I would mke 10-15K more if I worked for the Abu Dhabi Emirate Govt. But I like what I do, and its fun. Plus I have thins I wont sell out to the Man deal up in my head.

Oh, and the private sector is free to give any days off they want. All the govt is saying is they MUST give at least those 2 days off. If your boss said Im giving you 4 days off, so be it. His choice.

Reluctant and Recluse said...

I'll play the devils advocate here: the private sector is not compelled to restrict your holidays in anyway by the government; in this case the government is only compelling them to GIVE you at least one or two days off for eid - in the spirit of eid. You can ask your company to give you the other two days off and see what they say! they are not being forced to make you work on those days if they don't want you to.

I can imagine the ire from MNCs on how their productivity is suffering because of this 'muslim' holiday if the govt. compelled them to give more days off.

You are more likely to find yourself grumbling about the long public sector holidays especially if you need to interact with any of the govt. departments.

ZeTallGerman said...

Fair enough, Eid is a Muslim holiday so I can live with having a few days off less than government employees. However, (and that's a BIG however) I'll be highly curious to see what happens this year with the fact that Xmas day falls on a Friday, and so does New Year's Day... if it's up to private companies to decide upon how many days to give "extra", I'm guessing we'll have no extra days off for Xmas this year. Not fair. Oh, hang on - if we think something isnt' fair we should stay quiet and leave. Sorry, almost forgot.

Seabee said...

Anon@9.51, Saturday is a normal weekend day off.

moryarti said...

Private sector orgs are obliged to give 2 days but can give more - depending on company leadership.

On several occasions, we got days off in par with public orgs.. but never more of course.

Dubai Holidays said...

just to make you feel a bit better - in Oman the Government finished on Wednesday and is back next Saturday - private sector off on Monday & resumes on Saturday September 26

Anonymous said...

Tall German. Why is it not fair? Eid isnt just a muslim holiday. It is the UAE's Holiday (As the official religion of the STATE is Islam.

Christmas is not. And thus if Christmas would to be say, Monday, you would NOT have any legal reason to be given it off.

If a private company wants to close on that day, they are able to do so, thats their choice. But there is and will never be a mandatory Christmas leave in the UAE.

Of course a company SHOULD look out for it's employees. My semi-govt organization will allow you to take that day off if you wish, it will however come out of your annual leave credit.

The govt forces holidays that are inline with it's own beliefs on its own departments.

It cannot really force a company that is privately owned to do what it doesnt want to.

It offers 2 days off for workers, and you have a legal right to take those 2 days off for free. But the govt cant and shouldn't force a company to take a week off.

I have a week off and am already dreading the huge amount of back work I'll have waiting next week.

I dont get it, the govt is too influential, you bitch, the govt leaves things up to owners, you bitch.

No winning.

Anonymous said...

To clarify, a mjority of people here work a six-day week and only have Friday off...

These were the official announcements on WAM (Emirates Official News Agency) for both public and private...

UAE public sector to start Eid al-Fitr on Sept. 19
DUBAI, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Eid al-Fitr in the United Arab Emirates will start for the public sector on Saturday Sept. 19 until Tuesday Sept. 22, WAM said on Tuesday.
Work for federal ministries and departments will resume on Wednesday Sept. 23, the state news agency said.


and for the private sector....

Eid holidays
Private sector to mark Eid Al Fitr on the first and second days of Shawwal
Dubai, Sep 15th, 2009 (WAM)--Eid Al Fitr holiday will be on the first and second days of Shawwal for private sector companies and corporations, according to a circular issued today by Labour Minister HE Saqr Ghobash.

WAM/MN
WAM 1416 2009/09/15