----------------------------------------------------------------- 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) ------------- 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. ---------- The above was published in the Herald, Goa - 2 day section, page 15 on August 3, 2009