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A local lady (fresh graduate) just joined our firm as a secretary. What does she do - pretty nothing much the whole day - yakking on the phone, browsing net, english is pathetic, can hardly speak on the phone and take messages.

Her salary - A staggering Dhs. 19,000. How many of us after years of experience and well qualified fight for pay packages over 10k????

Pathetic here isnt it? Overworked and underpaid; "underworked" and overpaid! Big difference!

I think they are trying to encourage their own nationals to come and learn something .

was she cute ?

Arjun, its their country and they will do what they find fit for the local population. IF our home countries had the same policy none of us would have been here to earn a few more bucks.

I guess its upto us, if it hurts our ego and self esteem, we are free to leave , but-- compare it to the earnings and lifestyle back home, and you will see at least financially you are better off than home. Tomorrow if i get an better opportunity back home i will definately head off( which is about to happen)

cheers,

J

Arjun7ue,

Unforntunately (or forunately) that's what happens when someone else own's the country.

You should do like Dr. D (of this forum did) he bought a country: Chad. I don't think he pays secretaries nearly as much!

Indian folks devalue themselves to the point of taking Dhs 2k for engineering jobs. I'm from the same part of the world. Raise your standards, people! Western and local folks get more because they ask for nothing less.

gtmash wrote:Indian folks devalue themselves to the point of taking Dhs 2k for engineering jobs. I'm from the same part of the world. Raise your standards, people! Western and local folks get more because they ask for nothing less.

second that to a certain extent. stand your ground if you know you have the qualifications and experince to demand the money.

Our local staff don't receive that much. They feel devalued as well by not delegating work to them (local), they feel like chess pawn or figurine in the office as if they're not part of company.

asc_26 wrote:Our local staff don't receive that much. They feel devalued as well by not delegating work to them (local), they feel like chess pawn or figurine in the office as if they're not part of company.

And you laugh?

This would annoy me as well, but it's how Dubai runs.

I work for a UK / US firm (400 employees). The founders are Indian and the workers are a mix from all over the globe. We get paid on according experience and skill. Someone could be from timbuktoo yet be more experienced then myself and will be on more money and so they should be.

But one point that comes to mind, would we complain if the shoe was on the other foot and we got a big salary for being a national - i think a marjority would happily accept.

My attitude is to: look at yourself only!

If you feel that you are paid well for your role, what difference does it make what everybody else is getting!

Decide what your value is ang go wherever you have to to achieve this value!

Decide the quality of life you want and do whatever it takes to achieve that. Go back to college, change company, country!
Wouldn't suggest sleeping with the boss though! Always ends in tears and never comes to anything good!

English Girlie wrote: Wouldn't suggest sleeping with the boss though! Always ends in tears and never comes to anything good!

specially if you and your boss are male.

Ohhhh....... I'll watch!

Just kidding never really into the man/man thing!

English Girlie wrote:Just kidding never really into the man/man thing!

Illegal too. Male/female illegal too. Female/female = undefined in the law books.

Anyway, there is also this weird trend of filling up the office with people from the boss's/HR manager's nationality. And these compatriot workers still get paid crap if they are all Indian/Filipino/etc.

Unless Dubai is something special...... this situation happens all over the world, with different nationalities having the upper hand, dependant upon where you are!

We all have choices in life and if you don't agree with the philosophies of the company you work for - move company, if it's a country thing - move country!

When you are offered a job with a company you have chosen to apply to, it is upto you to negotiate a package that YOU are happy to earn, for the job you are doing!

I turned down a job (years ago) here in the UK because I knew the car that they had allocated to me was not a car I would get any fulfilment from, when driving everyday!! I knew it would grate away at me and eventually become a BIG issue. So I stood true to myself and turned the job down. Low and behold three days lated I was phoned to ask what car I would like as part of my package!

Now, I know Im not worth a Ferrari as my company car - had to be honest to mysalf and my abilities, but I believed I was of the calibra to have an AMG Merc and that at the time satisfied me!
AND you know what I got it!!!

STAY TRUE YOURSELF AND F*** what everyone else is upto (in terms of packages)!!

Be Happy!!

English Girlie wrote:We all have choices in life and if you don't agree with the philosophies of the company you work for - move company, if it's a country thing - move country!

Many people have very few choices and many more have no other choice!

You have to be privileged in the first place to have those choices.

The point of my article was - salaries and titles should come with experience. You get rewarded for the amount of work you do.

If you throw money this way at a fresh graduate - the person does not know the value of it. And it is so obvious from the lifestyle of the locals here. Money is thrown around like anything but not on valuables. They are just spoilt.

My first job - I slogged my behind off. And to be honest I was paid peanuts - practically nothing. But I really did feel I earned it. And my buying power was so very less. The temptations of a lavish lifestyle but the limitations of my pocket would bring me to reality. But I did learn the meaning of saving.

What I've seen in the locals is no sense of competition. - because they get what they want easily. They dont have to compete for it - almost like babyfed. Put them in other parts of the world - wouldnt last a second.

arjun7ue wrote:My first job - I slogged my behind off. And to be honest I was paid peanuts - practically nothing. But I really did feel I earned it. And my buying power was so very less. The temptations of a lavish lifestyle but the limitations of my pocket would bring me to reality. But I did learn the meaning of saving.

Me too! And my experiences have made me strong, determined at self assured. I sleep easy knowing I am reponsible for myself and what I achieve. I rely on no-one but myself, owe no-one nothing and no-one can let me down!

You should be proud of what you have achieved and what you will achieve.

I don't like the 'silver-spooning' much, if i'm honest. But maybe that's because I haven't ever been spoon fed.
Don't worry about everyone else. Hold your head high, knowing you are responsible for your future!!

Be proud and happy!

x

Sorry Sunday night.... end of a busy weekend.... I know I tend to get a bit 'Life Coachy' sometimes!!

Forgive me if I'm talking dribble!

English Girlie wrote:Forgive me if I'm talking dribble!

that kid have ugly knees.

You can bargain hard only if you're a specialist in your field.

Normally if you turn down a job, there are a thousand others waiting to take your place

This is extremely unfortunate

Arjun7ue wrote :

The point of my article was - salaries and titles should come with experience. You get rewarded for the amount of work you do.


I've a slightly differing view -salaries and titles should come with the value created for the company. Not with experience, seniority, race, nationality etc. Each person's should be compensated according to the he/she creates for the company.

chubbyhubby wrote:
I've a slightly differing view -salaries and titles should come with the value created for the company. Not with experience, seniority, race, nationality etc. Each person's should be compensated according to the he/she creates for the company.

In a way you are agreeing with me. It is the experience and seniority of the individual that creates the value for the company.

I've been with so many companies abroad and seen that mostly it the CVs of the individual that creates the impression to the Client.

Unfortunately in most and I do mean most comapnies here - it is race/nationality.

arjun7ue wrote:The point of my article was - salaries and titles should come with experience. You get rewarded for the amount of work you do.

If you throw money this way at a fresh graduate - the person does not know the value of it. And it is so obvious from the lifestyle of the locals here. Money is thrown around like anything but not on valuables. They are just spoilt.

My first job - I slogged my behind off. And to be honest I was paid peanuts - practically nothing. But I really did feel I earned it. And my buying power was so very less. The temptations of a lavish lifestyle but the limitations of my pocket would bring me to reality. But I did learn the meaning of saving.

What I've seen in the locals is no sense of competition. - because they get what they want easily. They dont have to compete for it - almost like babyfed. Put them in other parts of the world - wouldnt last a second.

you seem to like to generalize a lot... kind of to the point that doesn't really want me to agree with a single thing you have said...

There are some talented and hardworking locals, problem is they have many hangers on in the rest of the family who milk one person's vision for all it's worth. 2nd generation wealth here is quite lazy, where in to 3rd generation they've just given up completely.

arjun7ue wrote:A local lady (fresh graduate) just joined our firm as a secretary. What does she do - pretty nothing much the whole day - yakking on the phone, browsing net, english is pathetic, can hardly speak on the phone and take messages.

Her salary - A staggering Dhs. 19,000. How many of us after years of experience and well qualified fight for pay packages over 10k????

Pathetic here isnt it? Overworked and underpaid; "underworked" and overpaid! Big difference!

Will isn't this a one side story ? did you ask your self why they paid her well ? isn't it probably because she is academically more qualified than you ? or you are simply not doing the job assigned to you in a proper official way that satisfy your firm?

And to be more honest ( no heart feeling )but most foreigners are corrupted , that might be another reason why companies are replacing you guys by locals.

on the other hand they don't coast company's visa, health insurance ,accommodations expenses and travel allowances !!

Will isn't this a one side story ? did you ask your self why they paid her well ? isn't it probably because she is academically more qualified than you ? or you are simply not doing the job assigned to you in a proper official way that satisfy your firm?

And to be more honest ( no heart feeling )but most foreigners are corrupted , that might be another reason why companies are replacing you guys by locals.

on the other hand they don't coast company's visa, health insurance ,accommodations expenses and travel allowances !!

firefingers wrote:And to be more honest ( no heart feeling )but most foreigners are corrupted , that might be another reason why companies are replacing you guys by locals.

Dude, pretty sure the word Wasta was invented around these parts.