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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
