UAE Business News: Discount markets still a draw for Abu Dhabi residents

UAE Business News:Discount markets still a draw for Abu Dhabi residents
Abu Dhabi News: The capital may be teeming with shiny new stores sporting the latest electronics, fashion and homeware collections, but throughout the year, it is the everyday discount markets that see the greatest consumer footfall.

Most of these outlets feature a variety of items at extremely affordable prices. While some products are priced as low as Dh1, most items cost between Dh5 and Dh30.

But it is not just the prices that attract customers; the other draw is that the stores feature a range of products — from bedding to garments, and crockery to skincare.

“Today, I’m here to buy a pair of slippers and some soap and shampoo. I regularly shop here for my everyday uses, as everything is available across the store,” said Sohail Khan, a 23-year-old restaurant worker from India who was shopping at a discount market off Hamdan Bin Mohammad Street.

“The prices are very cheap here and they suit my budget. I usually spend Dh150 per month on personal belongings and items, as well as perfumes and watches. In addition, I always come here to buy presents for my family and friends before I go on holiday,” he added.

For Mounir Tibari, a 35-year-old maintenance manager from Morocco, discount markets cater to his specific needs.

“I’m single and live alone, so I don’t like spending time on laundry. So I come here to find affordable and cheap underwear, socks, towels, blankets and bedsheets that I can discard and dispose after using them,” he said.

Despite the regional economic slowdown, the capital saw a number of new discount markets open their doors this summer in downtown Abu Dhabi.

Abdus Subhan Megoon, 24, a sales associate from India, was buying socks from a recently opened two-storey discount market on Zayed the First Street.

“I find the quality to be good, and the price is cheap too. I find out [other] shops charge much more for almost the same kind of product,” Megoon, who takes home Dh3,000 every month, said.

The large collection of products also makes shopping convenient.

“When I am looking for something specific, this is the best place to find it,” he added.

Beauty products for women are aplenty at the discount markets, which draw their fair share of the fairer sex.

“I come here and usually go back with quite a bit of make-up — nail polishes, lipsticks, nail kits and soaps. The best thing is that you can find almost everything at this shop, and the prices are perfect,” said Shammi Munni, a 32-year-old tailor from Bangladesh. She was stocking her shopping basket with cosmetics at a long-established discount store on Sultan Bin Zayed the First Street.

“I earn an average salary of Dh2,000 and reserve about Dh300 for cosmetics and beauty products,” she said with a smile.

Contrary to popular perception, it is not just low income-earners who frequent discount markets. Many expats prefer to pick up gifts for friends and family, especially as buying many items does not require a huge outlay of cash.

“We’re leaving for our annual vacation on Thursday, and coming to a discount market is perfect when you want gifts for family and friends,” said 38-year-old graphic designer Sree Kumar, who was out shopping with his wife and one-year-old son. The family has an average monthly earning of Dh10,000.

“We find everything here, from our household items to electronics and personal products. Today, we are here to get perfumes, watches, clothes and toys,” said Kumar’s 27-year-old wife, Anju. She works as a nurse at a private hospital in the capital.

Apart from residents, visitors too hunt for bargains at Abu Dhabi’s discount outlets.

“I’m here on a two-month trip, so I’m looking to buy myself several outfits today, as well as some for my wife and children,” said Thomas Talakkottur, a chef from India. He added that he found the prices to be so reasonable that he was planning to buy watches, perfumes and cosmetics as gifts before he left the store.

LIVE Dubai International Film Festival 2016

LIVE: Dubai International Film Festival 2016 raises curtains
Dubai International Film Festival 2016,Live Dubai International Film Festival 2016, diff, Dubai, film, entertainment, movies, films, uae

Dubai International Film Festival has returned for its 13th edition today, December 7, with a diverse line-up of international and regional films. 

WE brings you all the action from the red carpet of Dubai's one of the most prestigious and glamorous events.

7:45 pm

American actor Samuel Jackson speaks to media at the red carpet.

7:20 pm

Here are some candid moments from the event.

7:00 pm

Emirates crew at Dubai International Film Festival (Photos by Juidin Bernarrd)

6:45 pm

Waiting at the red carpet (Photos by Juidin Bernarrd)

6:30 pm

Maan Jalal from City Times reports live from the red carpet.

UAE LABOUR LAW :Employee must report sickness in 2 days

UAE Employee must report sickness in 2 days

I was absent from work in a Dubai company on December 27 and 28 (two days) last year due to an illness. I could not inform the office about the same. For that, our Human Resources Department has taken disciplinary action against me.

1) They withheld my whole month’s salary; 

2) stopped me from coming to work and told me to be on leave without pay for 10 days; 

3) told me to clear all outstanding money I had taken from the office at one go; and 

4) shifted me from the Sharjah branch to the Dubai branch without consent or notice.

Is this fair? Why am I not being allowed to join work? Why should I accept their leave without pay? I am a woman who is financially dependent on the company salary for surviving in a foreign land. My rents and bills are due. My company has put me into financial trouble for being absent for only two days. Isn’t this violation of the UAE Labour Law?

It is understood that you are employed by an entity registered in Dubai which has its branch in Sharjah, and that you could not attend office for two days owing to illness and that you could not inform your office about the same. As a result of this, the HR Department of your employer decided to take disciplinary action against you. It is presumed that your employment is subject to provisions of the Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (the “UAE Labour Law”).

Pursuant to your question, it may be noted that if an employee contracts an illness not resulting out of an employment-related injury, the employee must report about his/her illness within a maximum of two days. This is in accordance with Article 82 of the UAE Labour Law which states:

“Where a worker contracts an illness otherwise than as a result of an employment injury, the worker shall report his illness within a maximum of two days and the employer shall thereupon take the necessary steps to have the worker medically examined immediately for the purpose of verifying his illness.”

In view of this, it may be noted that you were absent from work for two days without informing your employer and you reported to your work on the third day. Considering this, your employer may initiate disciplinary action against you. However, you may rely on Article 83 of the UAE Labour Law to plead with your employer that you are entitled to sick leave which states:

“1) The worker shall not be entitled to any paid sick leave during the probation period; and
2) If the worker completed more than three months after the probation period in the continuous service of the employer and falls ill, he shall be entitled to sick leave not exceeding 90 days whether continuous or otherwise, in respect of every year of service. Such leave shall be calculated as follows:
a) The first 15 days with full pay;
b) The next 30 days with half pay; and
c) Any subsequent periods without pay.”

The various other penalties being imposed on you as part of disciplinary action such as holding full one-month’s salary and not allowing you to attend work are not in accordance with those prescribed by the UAE Labour Law and, as such, they are in gross violation thereof. However, transferring you to the Dubai branch of the employer and seeking immediate repayment of loan taken by you from the employer are at the discretion of the employer.

No ban after two years at managerial level

I am presently working as an assistant manager in a Dubai-based LLC company for the last seven years. I have a ‘Limited’ period labour contract with my employers which will expire in November 2015. The labour contract states Federal Act No. (8) for the end-of-service benefits and Clause 120 of Federal Law No. (8) of 1980 if employer wants to terminate the services of an employee.

I want to know if I resign before the expiry of my contract period, what kind of ban my employer can impose on me? Also, if I resign after the expiry of my contract, will there be any ban on me? My employer had put one-year ban on my ex-colleague who had an ‘unlimited’ labour contract.

It is understood that you are working as an assistant manager at an entity based in Dubai for the last seven years under a limited-period contract which is set to expire in the month of November this year. Further, it is understood that your employment is subject to the provisions of Federal Law No (8) of 1980 (the “UAE Labour Law”).

It is learnt that in the event of termination of an employment contract under the volition of the employee, an employer has a right to seek a labour ban on such an employee.

However, it may be advised that your employer may not be able to impose any labour ban on you, should you choose to resign from your employment before the expiry of your employment contract, as you have already completed seven years of employment with your current employer and that you are holding a managerial position.

This is due to the reason that labour bans are not imposed upon employees who have continuously worked for two years or more. This is in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 of the Ministerial Resolution No. 1186 of 2010 which states:

Likewise, your employer also may not impose a ban even if you choose not to renew your employment contract after the expiry of the employment contract as you would be duly completing the period of employment mentioned in the employment contract.

However, it may also be noted that if a labour ban does get imposed on you, you may contest such a ban and try to have it removed if your subsequent employer is offering you the prescribed salary pertaining to your educational qualifications. This is in accordance with Article (4) of the Ministerial Resolution No. 1186 of 2010 which states:

“As an exception to the provision of Item No. (2) of Article (2) of this Resolution, the Ministry may issue a work permit to the employee without requiring the two-year period in the following cases:

a) In the event that the employee is starting his new position at the first, second or third professional levels after fulfilling the conditions for joining any of these levels according to the rules in force at the ministry, and provided that his new wage is not less than Dh12,000 at the first professional level, Dh7,000 at the second professional level and Dh5,000 at the third professional level;

b) In the event that the employer violates his legally stipulated obligations to the employee, or in the event that the employee is not the cause for terminating the work relationship as mentioned in Article (3) of this Resolution; and

c) In the event that the employee moves to another establishment owned solely or jointly by the same employer.”