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So it all boils down to (1) a person's self-worth; if you think you don't deserve that pathetic salary then don't accept it ang look somewhere else where your competencies will be well appreciated and compensated, and (2) the employer. At least you'll know what kind of an employer the company you applied for is. If they're too inconsiderate to offer you a salary way below your worth, chances are you'll not be going anywhere career-wise with that company. Look for an employer that will recognize your talents and skills.

Hey, bit of an old post, but just wanted to add to it.. The reason companies pay different wages to different nationalities is because those nationalities (asian or whatever) actually accept it. If they didnt, then the employers would not have a choice in the matter. Similarly westerners do not accept lower packages to come to Dubai.

I disagree completely with the concept people have that since things cost more in your home country (or less) you are paid accordingly. Everyone in Dubai are subject to the same cost of living, same high rents, same everything... and if two people have the same qualifications, they should be paid the SAME. It doesnt matter what your expenses are back home. You are working in Dubai, not UK or India or wherever. You are spending in Dubai. So two people with identical qualifications and experience should be paid equally and fairly as per their job and cost of living in Dubai. If any of these two people does not see value in working in Dubai, then they should just stay in their home country rather than there being a salary differential.

People working on work visas in any country, like US, Canada etc are paid the same as the citizens of that country (qualifications and job being the same between two people), and not according to where they came from.

Glad I dont have to deal with all this, but hope that one day there will be common sense and fairness in the UAE. There is some evidence of this happening in some forward thinking companies that offer similar salaries to its employees regardless of nationality. Hats off to these companies!

white person with white degree most preferred, then colored person with white degree and the last one is colored person with colored degree!
not all the whites are educated, I have seen some local companies recruiting white street fighters from South africa as managers of a construction company. there was australian Nurse who wanted to work in Ministry of Health as nurse, but the officials in MOH said since she is white they would give her a better position in Ministry office.
there was a documentary in BBC some years ago, where a British of Asian origin comes looking for a job and all they say here in Dubai is they cannot give him the benefits what whites get is, He is not white though he is british. It is not nationality or how ur paid in ur home country, It is the color of skin. There is more racism in this country than in the west.
One more thing about the trust is, It is wrong that this people do not cheat. the South African I wrote about had cheated this comapny and he set fire to the office to clear the evidence, then he left the country and came back after few years to get the same position in same company!
all i am saying is that these people are not over qualified to get these positions.

Ukite wrote:white person with white degree most preferred, then colored person with white degree and the last one is colored person with colored degree!
not all the whites are educated, I have seen some local companies recruiting white street fighters from South africa as managers of a construction company. there was australian Nurse who wanted to work in Ministry of Health as nurse, but the officials in MOH said since she is white they would give her a better position in Ministry office.
there was a documentary in BBC some years ago, where a British of Asian origin comes looking for a job and all they say here in Dubai is they cannot give him the benefits what whites get is, He is not white though he is british. It is not nationality or how ur paid in ur home country, It is the color of skin. There is more racism in this country than in the west.
One more thing about the trust is, It is wrong that this people do not cheat. the South African I wrote about had cheated this comapny and he set fire to the office to clear the evidence, then he left the country and came back after few years to get the same position in same company!
all i am saying is that these people are not over qualified to get these positions.

Yes, the point that British of Asian origin gets less than a white British is evidence of additional racism. Racism is here on the skin and nationality levels.

Wafaey wrote:Can anyone tell me why there is a double standard salary situation?!!!! One for Europeans and North American citizens and a way lower one for the rest of the world as if they are the scum of the earth !!!!!

I remember , once i was interviewd in a company in Dubai when i was working there. I insulted the person a lot during interview. He tolerated me for 10 minutes and then told me "out". Well u can only insult if ya have any option .

Here in Denmark , we have standard of salary. If you have master degree or engineering then companies can not offer ya less than 15000 AED as starter . Offcourse u have to pay 40% taxes

although i am quite white

HP wrote:although i am quite white

I true specimen of the master race....

Hi mate,

Simple answer, lets find you a fantastic new job! I know CB is, has or was helping you with your CV... But as you know, I am in teh maldives and have some spare time, mail it to me and I will have a play...

Just looked on MSN for you as well, but your not online. Maybe we can put your home address in UK, might be a good salary raiser???

But why should anyone have to 'play another part' or pretend they are something they are not to get a decent wage for a job they are qualified for?

People should be paid based on their abilities (academic or otherwise) not on the colour of their skin or what passport they hold.

And the sad fact of it all is most of the 'Westerners' on here who hold high 'management' positions could do something to change this. They however decide to go with the 'norm' in Dubai: Indians, Egyptians and other such nationalities are given lower salaries. Then they princess about how unfair the system is.

It may be me living in an 'ideal' world, but surely if one company stood up and made a difference - i.e. put nationality to one side and focused on attitude and qualifications, then this one person may change everyone....in time.....but someone has to start.

If any people take offence to me saying this then maybe they need to take a look at themselves and heaven forbid...change?!?!

At least take a bus to work instead of their fancy shmancy company car....the money you save on fuel could perhaps give that employee a small salary increase... so she/her can also enjoy the same lives which a lot of people take for granted. Chances are their values are a bit higher and instead of pissing bonus money up the wall it will be used for some good....like being able to afford their own room instead of having to share with 10 other low-salaried and educated employees.

Dear Lloydy,

I understand and respect your opinion, and will probably be in total agreement in an "ideal world".

However, Dubai is a Capitalist market and is only in existence for investment and capital gain... It is not a land focused on family, environment or fairness...which is what it all boils down to here.

It is a society dictated by supply and demand. The so called "lower classes" come here for many reasons, most of them can not find work in their home countries due to massive unemployment or will not be able to earn even close to the equivalent salaries in Dubai.

For instance, their way of life is to work, earn money and send it back home for the entire family to live well on, which the family would struggle back home without it. Also, these people’s expenses and cost of living back home are no way comparable to Europe etc. For instance, a qualified European would also have a home/family to support back home in similar fashion, and the cost is massively higher, so its also pro rata.

If for instance, let’s pick a random job, like an Accountant....

If every Chartered Accountant was paid the same, say 20,000 AED p/m, every employer would take the Accountant from UK as the Accounting standards are the highest in the world there. Then Accountants from the so called "less countries" would not be able to find work here. In my opinion, your “ideal world” scenario would not actually benefit anyone except those who are unfortunately already getting the preferential treatment.

Also, due to the success of the Dubai economy, hundreds and thousands of additional jobs have been and will continue to be created. This allows for more struggling families are the world, to be able to survive and lead a good, healthy life back home...

Have you considered looking at it in this way? Maybe I am totally wrong, so please don’t take offense, its just how I believe it is…

Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

"Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work."

I think what it boils down to in Dubai is that certain Nationalities do have the arrogance which they believe they are entitled to have....for example, someone once told me a story about buying some beers in a bar (whilst watching the footy at the WTC)...as he/she did not have enough hands to carry all the beers they paid an Indian man Dhs10.00 to carry the beers. Now, the indian man did this...why? because maybe that is a few lunches or dinners for him. The said arrogant person who could not carry his own beer could most likely have offered this Indian man a beer, or paid slightly more - being in a a high paying job. However, this is the mentality and the 'dubai syndrome' which a lot of Westerners have.

To these people I would suggest to pull their heads out of the sand (or from up their own arses?!?) and realise that all humans are equal, if someone is doing something the same as someone else then surely their rewards should be the same. If not then it is pure arrogance and manipulation of other human beings

Yes, I may be living in my own 'bubble' or my own 'ideal' world, but maybe I have just opened my eyes a bit wider than you and realise that there is a lot more happening around myself than my ego.

The Big Picture:
Women, Blacks and countless other 'minorities' in the past have been singled out, manipulated and treated unjustly...surely this is the same thing?

Dear Lloydy,

If you consider “this person” who paid the Indian to kindly assist him carrying his beer, have you ever thought, that this man was working on a very low salary as a rubbish collector, and was offered some extra cash whilst he was doing nothing during his duty hours. Therefore it was money for nothing…It is not arrogant, but “this man” could not carry 15 beers himself and might have asked this man would he help for 10 AED for 3 seconds assitance….It was a proposal offered and accepted.

Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

"Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work."
Anyway, I do not think you have only considered my comments previously and have responded simply because we often discuss this subject between ourselves.

Again I remind you of the accountant in my previous comments. If I had CV’s on my desk, one candidate from England, Holland, India and Philippines and each were ACA qualified the same, I was going to offer the candidate the same salary regardless of nationality, I would chose the English candidate because the standard of learning and accountancy is highest in UK. Therefore, this would not help your dilemma

The Big Picture,

I did not ignore your previous post...I just thought a lot of the information was invalid.

Take your example of an accountant.....if you had different cvs of different nationalities on you desk and you chose the English person, then I suggest you should enrol in a HR course.....surely you should interview each of the candidates first and base your decision on the standard questions set, and how you think this person could benefit your company as a whole. For example, an Arab might be best if you could utilise their language skills....There are many factors which need to be assessed. And yes, at the end of the process you may choose the English person. Is this because they are English? No..it should be because they will give the greatest good to your company....

"...Nor is there, apparently, any reason to think that Negroes are congenitally less intelligent than white people, but as to that it will be difficult to judge until they have equal scope and equally good social conditions." Bertrand Russell (1951)

I guess you are someone who doesnt want to give people equal scope and equal conditions.....

Why are you scared?

lloydy wrote:The Big Picture,

I did not ignore your previous post...I just thought a lot of the information was invalid.

Take your example of an accountant.....if you had different cvs of different nationalities on you desk and you chose the English person, then I suggest you should enrol in a HR course.....surely you should interview each of the candidates first and base your decision on the standard questions set, and how you think this person could benefit your company as a whole. For example, an Arab might be best if you could utilise their language skills....There are many factors which need to be assessed. And yes, at the end of the process you may choose the English person. Is this because they are English? No..it should be because they will give the greatest good to your company....

"...Nor is there, apparently, any reason to think that Negroes are congenitally less intelligent than white people, but as to that it will be difficult to judge until they have equal scope and equally good social conditions." Bertrand Russell (1951)

I guess you are someone who doesnt want to give people equal scope and equal conditions.....

Why are you scared?

Well said, well said..

Babe, you think your eyes are wide open, but there are not...I know how wonderful it is in Lloydy land, I love being their with you!!!

Have a read, and I look forward to your next one sided reply...!!!

PS Still love ya though.... Don't tell your man... He might "Strike me Down"...!

"Most important, expatriate workers are likely to have fled areas of ethnic or religious strife, where minorities are subject to oppression and reprisals. Secrecy, anonymity, and security of financial transfers are critically important to such people, and perhaps essential to the survival of their families back home. Hawala makes it possible to work in Dubai and send money home securely. US-style financial disclosure regulations could destroy Dubai as a refuge for ethnic minorities in desperate need of employment outside of their home countries."

By J. Henderson, an investment banker in New York City. You can email him here: jhenderson2000@gmail.com

Anyway, you think it is bad in Dubai, you should have a look in the Maldives!!!!!!!

However, Clearly people have differing views;

"Dubai's à la carte Capitalism Won't Win

Dubai wants to be "what London was to the 19th century and Manhattan to the 20th", except without that messy democracy thing. No political parties. No freedom of speech. Religious courts. Oppression of immigrants and women.

A benign dictatorship is still a dictatorship and is too stifling to reach those heights. A more reasonable aspiration is to be "the Singapore of the 21st century".

Posted Mar 30, 2006 at 11:59 AM, under Economics by Kottes

THis was interesting...

capitalism

economic system based on private ownership of the means of production, in which personal profit can be acquired through investment of capital and employment of labor. Capitalism is grounded in the concept of free enterprise, which argues that government intervention in the economy should be restricted and that a free market, based on supply and demand, will ultimately maximize consumer welfare. Capitalism has existed in a limited form in the economies of all civilizations, but its modern importance dates at least from the Industrial Revolution that began in the 18th cent., when bankers, merchants, and industrialists—the bourgeoisie—began to displace landowners in political, economic, and social importance, particularly in Great Britain.

Capitalism stresses freedom of individual economic enterprise...

However, enough playing I have to get on hte boat.... 3 Islands to visit today and the sea is looking choppy....

Ciao Bella Lloydy

Wafaey wrote:Can anyone tell me why there is a double standard salary situation?!!!! One for Europeans and North American citizens and a way lower one for the rest of the world as if they are the scum of the earth !!!!!

i dont think its about the citizenship. its all about the blue eyes and blond hair and yeah the white skin.
south asian,hispanic and african americanas and europeans wont get the same salary as their caucasian fellow citizens.

racism exists and the thing which is really sad is that it exists in uae even though it is supposed to be a muslim country.

Sorry, but I have heard that there are even discrepancies between salaries amongst those with blue eyes, blonde hair and white skin - it depends on the country they come from, the field they work in etc. It seems to me that the non-whites are far worse at applying racist practices towards other non-whites.

kanelli wrote:Sorry, but I have heard that there are even discrepancies between salaries amongst those with blue eyes, blonde hair and white skin - it depends on the country they come from, the field they work in etc. It seems to me that the non-whites are far worse at applying racist practices towards other non-whites.

true the whites from east europe are paid less compared to brits or americans, the indians are paid even less (last in the food chain)

and yes the non-whites are far worse at applying racist practices towards other non-whites

But it doesnt just stop at race and colour of skins....age and gender is also discriminated against too!

Dubai looks all shiny from the outside, people need to rub away the exterior and see what really lies beneath. Not just beneath their own small 'safe' world, but at the whole big picture (The Big Picture?!?).

Exactly lloydy