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Goanetter Francis Rodrigues (Vasco/Toronto) book launch in
London, England @ the World Goa Day festivities on 15 Aug at 7pm
Details http://www.konkanisongbook.com
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Shame on Goans
Demi-sheikhs return home shaken
KIRTH GEORGE
Goans, over generations, have enjoyed advantages from currency
disparities to
boast of per capita income, savings and lifestyle above the national average.
One
family member abroad and the others living off it is common. Many youth, are
groomed
for only thing - a ship or overseas job, and no questions asked. The modus
operandi
is to do a relevant course, work sometimes even for free at a reputed company
locally to gain experience and keep trying to take off to that 'dream
destination',
where family, friend or tout is arranging a job. And it doesn't help that Goa
has
the worst pay structure in the country and is the most expensive destination to
live
in, according to a recent survey.
In the mean while, jobs vacancies must be filled up by importing labour
from
other States. In the aftermath, Goans complain about migrants, construction,
garbage - the list goes on. Many Goans go a step further 'to do our bit for
Goa' log
on to the Internet (from whichever country) and join a 'Save Goa' group on
Facebook.
That's all. But, with recession squeezing happy hunting grounds like the U.S.,
UK,
Gulf, and Australia, Goans are being forced out of the money chain, reminding
one of
the phrase - 'Dhobi ka kutta - na ghar ka, na ghat ka' - minus the offensive
tint.
The following are real life stories (names have been changed as requested by
the
victims).
Savio Fernandes, a top performer for four years in a row at a leading
private
bank in Mumbai jumped for a Rs 2.5 lakh monthly package in Dubai. The package
ABN
Amro offered was AED 20k plus perks. Six months later the bank was taken over
by
Royal Bank of Scotland and Fernandes lost his job. "The timing couldn't get
worse.
When you go to a new country and are trying to settle down, obviously you have
large
first time investments. So, based on my package, I went about renting an
apartment
(initial deposit + rent), buying household items, getting a driving license
(approximate cost AED 3k per test, average 3-4 tests), opening bank accounts,
and
applying for credit cards. This initial cost in the first 2-3 months is then
recovered over a period of time assuming you have a job. "I couldn't come back
to my
previous job in India as the company does not re-hire workers who quit for a
period
of at least three years. Also, to recover my initial cost of moving to Dubai,
it
left me no option but to look for another job in Dubai. But the cost of staying
back
in Dubai is even worse."
Fredrick Lopes, 38 and single, also working in Dubai for a bank since
2001.
Mid 2006, a UK-based bank was setting itself up in Dubai and started recruiting
offering better packages. Fredrick along with a few others jumped for the
almost 60
per cent hike over their existing package. The bank set up one head office and
another six satellite offices. But when the crash came, two branches were shut
down
in 2008 March and Fredrick became a casualty. "I tried to look for another job,
but
nobody was hiring. Then came the point beyond which it made no sense living off
my
savings. I am in Goa looking for a job. Adjusting from a salary of about Rs 2.5
lakh
per month in Dubai to being offered Rs 6000-7000 in Goa is difficult to accept.
The
situation is not much better here. But at least the expenses are manageable. I
am
still looking to go back."
Brian Gomes, from Vasco, had his own business when he got a break in
Dubai
with a Sharjah shipping company. "I was comfortable at my job with a package of
AED
8k plus housing and allowances." I was to get married in December 2008 in
Dubai. I
had already booked the hall, caterers and band. My relatives had made all the
travel
arrangements. I had come down on leave to make my wedding plans when they told
me
not to return. All my deposits have gone, my fiancé is there and I can't go
back, I
feel lost. I would have been better off if I had never gone to Dubai. I have to
start from scratch now.
Krishna Shetty, 38 and single, was working for an advertising company
called
Big Elephant, earning a salary of AED 12k. He changed his company in August
2008.
"When the time came for my confirmation in October, the recession had started.
There
was no business for the company and I was retrenched based on the
last-in-first-out
policy," Shetty said." "The problem was that I had a AED 60k car loan, AED 50k
credit card debt and a AED 2.5k per month house rent to pay and no other
company was
recruiting," said Shetty.
Carol D'Costa, working as a trainer at a training institute for career
development had a steady job of five years. She quit her job to join as a
receptionist at the Burj al Arab. Four months down the line the ownership of
the
hotel changed and she was sacked. Still hunting for a job in Dubai she survives
by
living with friends.. She has yet to recover the money paid to the agent for
the
job. In addition she has a credit card debt of AED 5k. "I have sent my CV to
about
200 places and received just three interview calls. Soon, I will be forced to
leave
Dubai."
Samuel Thomas, working as a manager, operations for a reputed travel firm
handling inbound tourists moved to Oman about a year ago. Married with one kid,
he
gave up running a small travel agency in Goa for a better life. "I have worked
for a
year, my family is in India, but I am afraid to take leave. As for the tourism,
Dubai has been the window to the Gulf with travelers landing in Dubai and then
coming to Oman and neighbouring GCC countries. With the downturn, we in Oman
are
feeling the heat."
Robert, 45, in Dubai with a wife and two kids was working in the HR
department
of a real estate company for AED 15k. His firm got into a JV with an Omani
company
and he was transferred to Muscat. But the project there too was hit by the
slowdown.
So he was sent back to Dubai where his company told him, 'either take an onsite
job
for AED 7k per month or quit.' "I consulted my family and friends in Goa and I
realized after almost 20 years in the Gulf, I had lost my connections in Goa.
Coming
back here at this age and starting over from scratch would set me back further
than
if I accept the pay cut here. I am only praying that the old days return,"
Robert
said.
Saddiq Hussain Khan, 42, working for the UAE based Al Ahli Bank was
drawing
about AED 30k. Khan has two daughters aged 13 and eight and they had a
comfortable
lifestyle. He was on the verge of buying a new car. The sole earner in the
family,
overnight he lost his job and is now considering leaving Dubai. "Living in
Dubai
without a job when you have family is not possible. I am only waiting because
my
children's schooling has to be looked into," he said.
(Reported by Kirth George)
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The global downturn
KIRTH GEORGE
It's been a long time coming, as they say, a full circle. There was a
time
when the term 'Gulf Return' entailed the yang in terms of financial stability
and
social standing, but today it is the yin that has put them in free fall.
Fueled by high oil prices, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC -consisting
of
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE) had witnessed
phenomenal
growth. Dubai in particular, over the past decade, had quickly developed to be
the
global business hub. High-rise buildings, artificial islands, golf courses,
extravagant hotels, malls and yachts - almost an obscene display of wealth -
was
creating numerous jobs at pay scales unthinkable in India, positively not in
Goa.
The favourable exchange rate of Rs 13.2 to a UAE Dirham (AED) too made
remittances
attractive.
But, the crash in global crude oil prices plugged the source that was
fueling
the growth. After an initial phase of denial and false propaganda which
governments
sustained for a few months after the trouble actually started, the GCC couldn't
keep
up the pretence.
In 2007 came the first signs and then came the real estate and stock
market
crash in October 2008. For instance, Emaar Properties a Public Joint Stock
Company
(PJSC) with a 32% government stake; known as the region's largest real estate
company and the first developer to provide freehold property in Dubai listed at
AED
1 way back in 1998. It was trading at AED 35 in mid 2005. But despite all its
backing, having a chairman in Mohamed Ali Alabbar, who is also the Director
General
of the Dubai Department of Economic Development, its stock price tanked and is
currently trading at AED 2.66.
Even government projects like the Dubai Rail Project, announced amidst
great
fanfare in 2003 and scheduled to run the first train on 09-09-2009 has run into
problems.. Major construction companies have pulled out and a delay looks the
most
likely outcome. Multinationals started restructuring and non performing
branches
were shut down. This resulted in recruitment freezes and job cuts. Commissions
and
incentive packages too nose dived.
To add to that, regulatory pressure on companies to hire nationals was
increased. UAE for example has banned termination of its nationals; Kuwait
plans to
impose mandatory compensation for Kuwaiti employees while Saudi Arabia has
instructed companies to start firing expatriates first. Hence the GCC, with a
largely expatriate workforce is protecting the region from severe domestic
unemployment. The new government rule allowing expats maximum 30 days stay in
the
country after termination has now succeeded in exporting the problem of
unemployment
overseas.
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The above was published in the Herald, Goa - 2 day section, page 15 on August
3,
2009
