Acebravo wrote:Hi,
What is the difference between getting hired by a large company like Nortel, Cisco or GM for example and a local Emirati employer/company such as Etisalat or the government?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? will the western large companies offer the same thing in terms of expat benefits such as annual air tickets etc? who'd pay more? or are they the same in
terms of employment in that they both give pretty much the same thing and you are regarded as expat no matter?
Hope to hear from anyone soon
There are quiet a lot of variables, so things aren't quiet as simple as that..
One of the first things is that under "large company" you have listed companies within the freezone as well as companies outside the freezone. The salary perks and benefits may not differ all that much, but the conditions of employment do.
Most governmental and municipal departments have an "affirmative action" policy, whereby they have to conform to employing a quota of local UAE nationals. They also tend to employ labour (skilled and unskilled) from the Asian sub-continent – I would assume because of the difference in salary package they would. The current (although it may be changing) rule regarding employment for a municipal or government employer is: if you leave your position you get a mandatory 1 year ban! In addition much of the “skilled” or highly technical work undertaken by the above is farmed out to sub-contractors (private sector).
Companies in the freezones do not have a quota system relating to the employment of local (UAE nationals). A local UAE sponsor is not necessary to establish a company within the freezone and all profits can theoretically be repatriated. Labour contracts are based on the Dubai Department of Labour one, but an employee is not banned should he wish to change his employer.
Private sector trading companies (LLC’s) in Dubai have limited quotas on the employment of local (UAE nationals). These businesses have a 49/51 percent ownership between a local (sponsor - 51%) and in most cases an international business partner (49%). Labour contracts are governed by the Department of Labour (Dubai), and currently should you wish to change employer you could face a 6 month labour and immigration ban, although this regulation changes regularly and is about to be changed again (normally a lot of exclusions and inclusions).
Benefits offered by Private differ vastly, there is no set expat “package” and it is up to the individual to negotiate their own, most companies will try and save money where they can – if you don’t ask for it you won’t get it!
In short, I’d stay away from government jobs, as there is more money, scope and fewer headaches than in the private sector.
By the way if you are in a category such as electrician, structural engineer etc, you have to pass a Dubai Municipality trade test to have your qualification accredited and be licensed to work in Dubai
