My Dubai monthly expediture
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Mars
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DP,
I don't call myself a moderator on this forum, I just contribute like you. As always, it depends on which side of the argument you are on as to whether or not the other guy's view is 'strong and unfounded' or moderate. All I have done on this thread is to say how much I spend and stuck up for low paid workers whether sourced from an agency or not. Is there something wrong with that?
Schnowzer
I don't call myself a moderator on this forum, I just contribute like you. As always, it depends on which side of the argument you are on as to whether or not the other guy's view is 'strong and unfounded' or moderate. All I have done on this thread is to say how much I spend and stuck up for low paid workers whether sourced from an agency or not. Is there something wrong with that?
Schnowzer
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Yet another post about housemaids...where's the budget stuff?
Schnowzer
I'm with you buddy. The others have obviously taken your input the wrong way. All of your comments have been up the middle. Keep it up.
DjSkyPimp...you must be pretty naive if you think you get protection and peace of mind going through an agency. You get equally as much using other vehicles if done properly. Just read the local papers to get an idea how many exploytive flaky companies are out there. There is even a movement to regulate the industry due to abuse. If you approach it properly you will have just the same security as not going through one (this is not bashing agencies by the way, there are some good ones, just pointing out fact). You will also recieve all the same protections (these are covered by the local laws) and documents, if you ask, during the (same as agency) interview.
The whole point from many of the posts was about skimping on the pay and treatment of the final individual. Like bargain shopping at the grocery store. If you tell fellow lurkers here "this" is the way it's done and "this" is how much it costs, they may come with a slightly unrealistic view of "real" costs and other various options.
Also (to put the shoe on the other foot -referencing DjSkyPimp's comment about the housemaids "agreeing" to the wage an agency offers them) remember that many of the posters on PPRUNE here agreed to the terms of service at their current employers but for various reasons but seem less than enthusiastic now. Not necessarily through any fault of their own. As I've seen many times, some just need to get out of where they are now (current job or country)without due regard to where they might be going. Don't think it won't happen at the domestic help level. Remember they are the ones entrusted with all your "stuff" and perhaps your most precious possesions of all. Try to keep them happy
too.
Your 8000 for "household" isn't out of line (perhaps a bit on the high side compared to my 5500-6000 but everyone is different and bunches different things in that category.
We all leave our "home" for various reasons, but it's not only about money. If I'm going to live far away from family and friends, then there better be a few perks to do so for both myself and my family. Yes in some ways my life has improved (at a cost) but that's factored into being here in the first place.
I'm with you buddy. The others have obviously taken your input the wrong way. All of your comments have been up the middle. Keep it up.
DjSkyPimp...you must be pretty naive if you think you get protection and peace of mind going through an agency. You get equally as much using other vehicles if done properly. Just read the local papers to get an idea how many exploytive flaky companies are out there. There is even a movement to regulate the industry due to abuse. If you approach it properly you will have just the same security as not going through one (this is not bashing agencies by the way, there are some good ones, just pointing out fact). You will also recieve all the same protections (these are covered by the local laws) and documents, if you ask, during the (same as agency) interview.
The whole point from many of the posts was about skimping on the pay and treatment of the final individual. Like bargain shopping at the grocery store. If you tell fellow lurkers here "this" is the way it's done and "this" is how much it costs, they may come with a slightly unrealistic view of "real" costs and other various options.
Also (to put the shoe on the other foot -referencing DjSkyPimp's comment about the housemaids "agreeing" to the wage an agency offers them) remember that many of the posters on PPRUNE here agreed to the terms of service at their current employers but for various reasons but seem less than enthusiastic now. Not necessarily through any fault of their own. As I've seen many times, some just need to get out of where they are now (current job or country)without due regard to where they might be going. Don't think it won't happen at the domestic help level. Remember they are the ones entrusted with all your "stuff" and perhaps your most precious possesions of all. Try to keep them happy
too.Your 8000 for "household" isn't out of line (perhaps a bit on the high side compared to my 5500-6000 but everyone is different and bunches different things in that category.
We all leave our "home" for various reasons, but it's not only about money. If I'm going to live far away from family and friends, then there better be a few perks to do so for both myself and my family. Yes in some ways my life has improved (at a cost) but that's factored into being here in the first place.
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Expatriates suffer as rents go through the roof in Abu Dhabi
Speaking about costs, look what is happening to Abu Dhabi 15 years later, as published by Emirates Today yesterday:
15 August 2006
Spiralling rents and the rising cost of living in Abu Dhabi are forcing upper and middle income expatriates to live without their families.
Estate agents claim that rents have gone up by as much as 60 per cent, but many of those looking for accommodation say they have encountered 100 per cent rises.
"Several expatriates have sent their families back home due to the high rents and several apartments have been vacated. The demand is so high that even before an apartment is vacated there are people who are willing to pay money to the previous tenants requesting them to transfer it to their names," said one property agent.
Over the past couple of months the situation has become tough for people living on a tight budget. There are very few one and two-bed room apartments available and all that remains on offer is accommodation way beyond the means of upper and middle income groups.
The Department of Social Services and Commercial Buildings (DSSCB), which controls almost 90 per cent of commercial and residential properties in Abu Dhabi, said: "There are hardly any flats under our control that are lying vacant, there is a severe shortage of accommodation and there are no projects coming up to ease the situation." Rajesh Parek, a marketing manager for Air India, said he and his friends now talk of little else but rents.
"The situation is compounded by the increase in the cost of living. Prices of food items have gone up by nearly 100 per cent," said Nora Kadour, a Jordanian housewife.
"In a matter of just 40 days the price of lentils has gone up considerably. When I left for my summer holiday to Amman I remember paying Dh3.50 per kg and now it is Dh5,"she said.
Private sector employees complain that there is no significant rise in their salaries to meet the cost of living.
According to property agents, there is a huge demand for one- and two-bedroom flats, so consequently rents have increased.
A two-bedroom apartment priced at Dh35,000 last year is now going for Dh50,000.
H Haider, a media consultant who lives in a two-bedroom flat for which he pays Dh40,000, has been served notice by his landlord that his rent is going to increase to Dh65,000.
"I have no choice but to leave. I cannot afford the rent. I will send my family back home," he said.
The rent for a threebedroom apartment in Abu Dhabi is generally between Dh90,000 and Dh120,000.
Some upscale agencies say they have vacant properties but few takers.
According to reports, the population in the capital has increased to more than 600,000 a rise of almost 30 per cent since the early 1970s.
There are an estimated 34 projects currently under construction in Abu Dhabi, the majority of which are expected to be ready by early next year.
By Syed Qamar Hasan, © Emirates Today 2006
Spiralling rents and the rising cost of living in Abu Dhabi are forcing upper and middle income expatriates to live without their families.
Estate agents claim that rents have gone up by as much as 60 per cent, but many of those looking for accommodation say they have encountered 100 per cent rises.
"Several expatriates have sent their families back home due to the high rents and several apartments have been vacated. The demand is so high that even before an apartment is vacated there are people who are willing to pay money to the previous tenants requesting them to transfer it to their names," said one property agent.
Over the past couple of months the situation has become tough for people living on a tight budget. There are very few one and two-bed room apartments available and all that remains on offer is accommodation way beyond the means of upper and middle income groups.
The Department of Social Services and Commercial Buildings (DSSCB), which controls almost 90 per cent of commercial and residential properties in Abu Dhabi, said: "There are hardly any flats under our control that are lying vacant, there is a severe shortage of accommodation and there are no projects coming up to ease the situation." Rajesh Parek, a marketing manager for Air India, said he and his friends now talk of little else but rents.
"The situation is compounded by the increase in the cost of living. Prices of food items have gone up by nearly 100 per cent," said Nora Kadour, a Jordanian housewife.
"In a matter of just 40 days the price of lentils has gone up considerably. When I left for my summer holiday to Amman I remember paying Dh3.50 per kg and now it is Dh5,"she said.
Private sector employees complain that there is no significant rise in their salaries to meet the cost of living.
According to property agents, there is a huge demand for one- and two-bedroom flats, so consequently rents have increased.
A two-bedroom apartment priced at Dh35,000 last year is now going for Dh50,000.
H Haider, a media consultant who lives in a two-bedroom flat for which he pays Dh40,000, has been served notice by his landlord that his rent is going to increase to Dh65,000.
"I have no choice but to leave. I cannot afford the rent. I will send my family back home," he said.
The rent for a threebedroom apartment in Abu Dhabi is generally between Dh90,000 and Dh120,000.
Some upscale agencies say they have vacant properties but few takers.
According to reports, the population in the capital has increased to more than 600,000 a rise of almost 30 per cent since the early 1970s.
There are an estimated 34 projects currently under construction in Abu Dhabi, the majority of which are expected to be ready by early next year.
By Syed Qamar Hasan, © Emirates Today 2006
