Hell's bells
Labour Ministry employees are in dire need of some better training. Ministry heads have had to send out a circular about ignoring incoming phonecalls:
This circular came after a bizarre phenomenon in the ministry's offices, which does not suit the leading role of the Ministry of Education. Some employees, it was revealed had gone to the extent of pushing their phones away from them so as to avoid answering calls from applicants. The brazen and deliberate ignoring of most incoming calls from anxious applicants soon turned into crisis proportions.
If you want to ignore your phone - don't just push it away - disconnect it! If the cord is welded in, a good pair of office scissors should do the trick. Otherwise adjacent Labour Ministry colleagues will be irritated by the constant ringing, and unable to concentrate properly on Minesweeper and FreeCell.
This circular came after a bizarre phenomenon in the ministry's offices, which does not suit the leading role of the Ministry of Education. Some employees, it was revealed had gone to the extent of pushing their phones away from them so as to avoid answering calls from applicants. The brazen and deliberate ignoring of most incoming calls from anxious applicants soon turned into crisis proportions.
If you want to ignore your phone - don't just push it away - disconnect it! If the cord is welded in, a good pair of office scissors should do the trick. Otherwise adjacent Labour Ministry colleagues will be irritated by the constant ringing, and unable to concentrate properly on Minesweeper and FreeCell.
Labels: emiratisation
30 Comments:
I grew up in Dubai and lived there for 21 years. I am an Indian citizen educated in British and American schools in Dubai and went to University at a USnews top 25 ranked college somewhere in the U.S. Now I am working in Kuwait.
What I am curious to know is that since your site was blocked and unblocked means someone "important" saw it. So I hope to God someone "important" does something about your issues which are all valid points.
My question to you is...
Do you think the leaders of Gulf States do not know about the stupidity that goes on in their countries sometimes or just choose to avoid it as the good outweighs such things as no human rights for cheap labor, temperature never rising over 50 celsius so workers can work, pretending AIDS does not exist and having no criticism allowed of them in the media?
I learned as a young child even that you should take criticism well and deal with it like most mature people do. Ignoring your flaws are the worst thing and very childish
Dubai is not bad at all by the way I love it after I saw how things go on in Kuwait. Sometimes I wish the oil would run dry or alternate power would come, to teach people a lesson in Kuwait! See if the great amazing parts of Gulf culture can flourish again? The warmth and hospitality of the native people of what we know as Arabia.
The question here must be - where would these people do the least damage to society? Sitting in a Ministerial Office not answering the phones seems like a pretty sensible place to keep people who might otherwise be roaming the streets in high-powered vehicles. The police and military obviously wouldn't want them as giving them access to firearms would just be asking for trouble, and they wouldn't last five minutes in a private company so, as long as there is one person in each office willing and capable of answering the phone, then why not stuff a ministerial department with such unemployables?
As to this being a bizarre phenomenon - I wonder how long the journalist has been in the Gulf Region.
My father's company in Kuwait also had a similar problem. As soon as the CEO found it out, he installed a system which was hell for the operators - now the operators have to answer every call within four rings, failing to do so, a memo is sent to their immediate head and the operator has to respond within 10 minutes. Further more, as soon as the memo is sent, the operator receives an intimation via email and sms (there is no running away).
If the call is not attended to in 15 minutes, the department head is supposed to answer the call.
20 minutes and no response would result in the memo being sent to the CEO, and you are in deep trouble then...
Wonder if that will work in Govt. organisations though...hmm...
Mukund - I think most leaders/senior government figures are well aware of problem areas and are taking quite dramatic steps to solve things. Witness Dr Al Ka'abi's recent action after the latest worker protest: the company was instantly punished and ordered to pay, and the workers given free transfer rights if they weren't paid.
The problem is that until recently, local education here left a lot to be desired - as the Education Minister himself regularly points out. So while there are a few people at the top who have been educated in a more international environment and syllabus, the majority haven't had that.
So it's a challenge for those at the very top to move and improve things as quickly as they can.
Dubai Quality Award has a program called "Mystery Shopper" - were mock clients call up the target government department.
One of the criteria is how many rings doest it take before someone picks up. The report goes directly to the DG or CEO.
I know that takes place semi-government departments and the Free Zones .. but am not sure about ministries..
you can bring the modern world to the arabs, but that's no guarantee it will stick
mukund,
The problem here comes from the cultural differences, the country has grown so fast but the people didnt had the chance to adjust to that. So for you when you see all the glitter gold so you expect it to weigh the same! But it doesn't.
When I was in Europe I hated everything there.
no official in any counter would smile at you Nor are you suppose to greet them.
I remember at the Frankfurt airport when i went to DuestchBahn counter to validated my train ticket, and as customery in our places I asked the lady "How are you?" and she starred at me as If I cursed at her. jeeez give me a break
so balushi, would u rather have crap service with a smile, or efficient service with no smile?.. cos that's the difference between here and the west
"I believe that such a judgment gives a wrong signal. This culprit should have been given a more severe punishment. He should not get less than two years for kidnap alone, I assume that the public prosecutor will definitely file an appeal in which a stronger punishment will be requested."
Dr Fatma Mohammad Al Khumeiri, Head of Pathology at the Department of Forensic Medicine at Dubai police, said: "I cannot comment on the judgment. The judge must have seen different circumstances.
"However, I haven't seen any true rape cases. It is a rare crime in Dubai. I have seen many women claiming that they have been raped. Such incidents have happened with the victim's consent. In general, a rapist is considered socially sick and needs rehabilitation."
Dr Al Khumeiri described the UAE law as adequate in terms of sentencing rapists.
(what kinda crap is this ?)
u think thats bad ? i know of an air hostess (first class) who answered the emergency loo buzzer in mid-flight. a teenage blue-blooded princess ordered her...ur not gonna believe this....to clean her uhm..backside after she had crapped....
needless to say the utterly flabergasted, to say the least, beat a hasty retreat....
"so balushi, would u rather have crap service with a smile, or efficient service with no smile?.. cos that's the difference between here and the west"
Mr Anonymous, please try to put a name! even a 123 is good.
This is what I mentioned to you that its the cultural difference, we Officials have Human feelings they are flexible and they listen.
In europe they don;t listen.
A friend of my from uk visited thailand, she was robbed at a knife point luckiliy her passport was at hotel but she lost every single penny she had along with credit cards.
She went to the police and got the pappers for the insurance and everything went well.
When she arrived at the airport to come home to Dubai, when the Officials at the thai airport told her that she has to pay the airport tax! for her and her kids.
Then she explained the thai officials that she doesnt have any money and she was robbed and then took out the police papers to explain them but they didnt listened to her!
so she asked to meet the airport manager and then he refused to even talk to her!
She had already told the thai officails that she will pay the Tax as soon as she reaches Dubia, The money was about aed 300. she started crying while pleaing for help from the officials infront of her 3 grown children, and then she told the official Must I start begging?
The thai official told her: If you want to beg so beg but it wont change a thing.
It was then 1hr for the flight departure, the official then told her to contact the British Embassy but she knew they cant help at such a short notice.
So she started asking for money from passengers manily european expats bound for the same flight to Dubai, she explained her situation and she even showed them the police papers to them but no one helped her. she told them that she will pay them as soon as she reaches Dubai with them. she still no one helped.
Then she saw an Arab family(uae), which she knew were also going with her to dubai, she went to the man and told him that she needs 300aed to pay for tax and she will pay him back in dubai, with out giving her the chance to explain the situation the Arab Man asked his wife to hand 300dirhams and He gave it to her!!!
she ran to the exchange center and boarded the flight and she didnt even had the chance to thank the man, and then on the flight she looked around for the gentleman and found him, and she she asked him for his adresss and name! so that she could pay him back.
But the man refused to give his name and contact and told her that Its enough that you are going home.
She always wants to write this Incident to Gulf News but somehow she told me that she hasn't.
A request to My Humble fellow citizen in Arbain Gulf, Please never be like those cold whites. lets Keep our tradition and teaching of Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) alive, and always keep our Human touch alive in no matter what we do.
Thailand is in asia I am aware, but it only shows how great the people here are.
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Try missing your ride in Germany train station... no one will ever help you. All the signs are in dutch and even the station officials - once they see that you are not German, they start blabbering in dutch and give you Noe-nazi attitude like you are the scum of earth.
Whats even worse, I once gave sh*t to a UAE cabin crew member and reported her big time.
On a flight to the UK, there was an old arab lady visiting her kids in London. She spoke very little English and had a hard time with the flight attendants because of that.
Anyhow, upon leaving the plane, the old lady was queuing in front of me. as she passed by the exit of the plane, one blond attendant tells the other, "look at this stupid arab lady, she is coming to London and she doesn't know how to speak English"
that was it - i was furious! I turn around and tell her: "you work for an arab airliner, you bosses are arabs and you live in an arab country - do you speak Fking Arabic?"
Her shock was multiplied by the fact that i got her name and i stood outside the plain asking for the Emirates London station manager to report her .. i also made it a point to send a really nasty letter to Emirates in Dubai and i had pleasure in every second of it.
I am not saying that all Westerners are racists or anything, I am just saying that don't take a single example or incident and apply it to the entire nation, race or nationality.. cause if you tell me a story, i can list you 100.
The general trend is, arabs are more warm blooded and emotional then Europeans.
Sometimes it drives me nuts, true, but i rather live in a community that is more bonded then one where rapes and muggings take place in public places while everyone is passing by minding their own business
Moryarti, Have you been to europe before? I mean further north?
Do that! You will love even the foul smell in Dubai! Trust me.
I was stuck in the platform in Frankfurt and couldn't read any signs or anything, I went to one of the employees of DeatshBahn on the platform and asked him as how I can go to frankfurt Habptbahnouf? The man told me: GO TO INFORMATION!
and information was miles away and lot of stairs to climb! and the man even saw me carry tons of luggage.
This is them for you! But we dont them to change let them stay as they are.
BUT WHY WANT TO CHANGE US?
"your culture is worse than mine..my culture is better than yours..."
seems Dubai's tranquil multi-cultural veneer might be cracking...personally I think the whole world has become increasingly course and impolite in this day and age, whether you wear a cowboy hat, a bowler hat or a dishdasha. Best to be patient wheresoever you are.
German officials tend to adopt that attitude I agree. BUT although the officials and the men at the 'help' desk who were unhelpful with their German babble, we encountered friendly German passengers.
We were in a small town on the outskirts of Munster and had to get to Munster by train but couldn't get the tickets out of the machine coz, you guessed right, the information was in German.
The German lady passenger saw my mother feeling helpless and she shouted out to the ticket collector on board the train to let us on it (the last one of the day) and we jumped on it with her madly gesturing us to do it.
we were grateful for the kindness of such Germans during our stay there. I guess even they realise what a pain it must be for tourists to have to struggle with German everywhere.
ladies and gentlemen,
i have learnt a trick of how to deal...sorry...i mean communicate with the locals here..remember the movie SHREK 2...puss in boots, the adorable feline with claws? it works for me me all the time..i swear...look helpless and loss for the 1st impression..and once they put down their guards...show your fangs and claws appropiately. Mark my words...its a bliss..which is why i dont have any problems in particularly with the locals here.One time i was at a local bank and the lady officer in charge looked like an executioner from hell...i told her nicely but firmly why she looked angry? any problems? ..next moment she literally soften and gave me a smile..though it was rather faint. It really works!..all the time.
I think the "trick" of dealing with people with any nationality is to be as polite and pleasant as possible. People with public-service "counter" jobs generally spend their days dealing with a stream of frustrated, rude, and unpleasant customers.
So regardless of their nationality or yours, if you can smile and be friendly and respectful, regardless of language problems, you will usually get better service and give them a better day. They are far more likely to prioritise your issue or problem if you speak nicely to them.
You are usually best off emailing to their PR representatives, unless you can find feedback forms on government department websites.
"Happy that 3 answers all saying 60 days, I stayed in Dubai.
'You've overstayed, now you pay a fine' Well, turns out I had to pay DHS700" Original comment by Garthicus
Mr Garthicus, There is a Flaw in your story.
FYI a fine for over-staying one day is 100aed since you overstyed 30days that means you have incurred a Fine of 3000aed Not 700aed.
Thanks.
ya sure genius...he left the country didn't he? wht r u going to do about that? blow your whistle? or u could pay the balance...LOL
>>I wonder what the world would be like if pot was legal and international law required it to be consumed 3 times a week
Like Yemen.
;)
Baluchi,
Does it really matter how much he was fined - if he says it was AED700, why argue? Furthermore, I was always taught at school that people in Germany predominantly spoke German, especially in places like Frankfurt. Maybe some people in the very west of Germany speak Dutch, but not in the ret of the country.
"but not in the ret of the country. "
What is ret?
"blow your whistle? or u could pay the balance...LOL "
bf, I am talking about the flaw in his story! I am not Santa clause to pay for his fines.
I have been to Germany last month and had a lovely holiday. Although most signs at Trains stations in Germany are in German you can still get by them by looking at symbols and carrying a map. They also have an automatic ticket info and kiosk at the stations that has an English option. Most German staff at info counters do speak a bit of English. I admit that I also did my bit of research about the cities and the tourist attractions.
balushit,
ok..u win this time...for spotting the life threating mistake..well done!
Balushi,
I'm beginning to wonder if you're actually one of the people mentioned in the article 'Hell's Bells. You seem to have all the time in the world to criticize - maybe you have too much time on your hands? Pushed any phones away recently?
anonymous, the thing is that i want to say nice things but my english is very poor so its sounds not nice but when i will talk you will make song out of my words, its not my fault that i am not son of queen of england! isnt it?
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