Gulf Kannadiga - a reflection of Karnataka in the Gulf

27 July 2010 SHARJAH - Inhalation of carbon monoxide gas from a power generator caused the death of two labourers during the power outage in the emirate, Sharjah Police said.

Police said the two laborers died in their closed room in Industrial area number 11. A police official said, “The two labourers were Asian nationals in their thirties and both died before the ambulance arrived. They looked fatigued and were vomiting.”

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colourless gas and its inhalation can lead to death or sudden illness.

“Carbon monoxide is emitted from electrical generators, cars, trucks and from burnt wood and charcoal. Inhaling huge quantity of the gas leads to dizziness, chest pain and unconsciousness that usually leads to death especially in a closed room,” an official said.

Students of Karama institute denied right to sit exams after institute defaults on payment to Madras University

Madras University has complained to the Indian Consulate over the non-payment of fees which they claim amounts to over Rs3 million (Dh235,000).

An Indian university has withheld the results of several students and disallowed many from attending examinations following a dispute with its UAE centre.

The Madras University has been offering courses in the UAE through its Institute of Distance Education.

The Institute had tied up with the Campus Educational Institute in Karama.

However, several students of the Karama institute were not allowed to appear for exams and many others who attended the exams were not issued their results after the franchise owner in Dubai refused to pay the university its dues.

Meanwhile, Madras University has complained to the Indian Consulate over the non-payment of fees which they claim amounts to over Rs3 million (Dh235,000).

University of Madras vice-chancellor G Thiruvasagam was quoted by the Times of India as saying, “We learnt about the scam only when a girl whose result was withheld showed us the fee receipt, issued by the Dubai centre, during the monthly grievance redressal meeting here.”

Officials at the university and the Indian consulate in Dubai are exploring the possibilities of taking legal action against the centre.

Two-thirds of employees in the Arab world complain they are underpaid, with those in the Gulf region among the most dissatisfied, a new survey has found.

Sixty-six per cent of workers said they were not paid fairly, compared to just 16 per cent who said they were content with their salaries, according to the survey by job site Bayt.com.

Seventeen per cent of respondents were unsure about whether they were paid fairly.

Bayt.com surveyed an unspecified number of people across the Middle East and North Africa between June 4 and July 7.

In the UAE around three-quarters of respondents said they were unhappy with their salaries, with only 12 per cent saying they were well paid. Fifteen per cent said they were unsure if they were paid fairly.

In Kuwait the percentage of respondents unhappy with their pay was even higher at around 80 per cent, whereas 71 per cent said they were underpaid in Saudi Arabia and 75 per cent in Qatar.

For nine out of 10 workers in the Gulf region the pay package was the decisive factor in whether they stayed with an employer, the survey found.

The economic downturn sweeping the region has reduced the negotiating position of employees amid significant job losses, especially in sectors such as real estate, hospitality and financial services.

In many cases, companies have frozen pay and reduced their budgets for salary increases, according to recruitment consultants.

The impact has been more prominent in the UAE due to the collapse of the construction industry and Dubai’s debt woes.

Energy producers Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi continue to spend money on infrastructure but at a moderate pace.

Abu Dhabi: Expatriates in the emirate of Abu Dhabi have until July 27 to renew their health insurance policies or subscribe to new ones, before the end of the amnesty period announced in May by the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD).

The National Health Insurance Company, (Daman), said it was utilising all its resources to ensure applications from those who visited the branches were processed before the end of the amnesty period.

Daman's branches in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain would remain open on July 27 from 8am until midnight, a company spokesman said.

Daman, which dominates the UAE's health insurance market, said in June it had extended its working hours and days at major branches to serve the increased number of members wishing to renew their policies.

A company representative said Daman was currently experiencing an increase in customers at its main branches as members tried to meet the July 27 deadline.