It is an unspoken law, an informal policy, that only expats should be fired from their jobs in Dubai. Strange it may seems, but it is infact, a stark reality.
Recently, Al Futtaim Group fired 20 Emiratis on the ground of restructing the company in light of global recession. According to the official word, all of those made redundant were on probation.
Lt-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, the Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai police has warned local and international companies against any arbitrary termination of UAE nationals. This has been taken very seriously by Dubai Police (no idea why they had to take it personally) whose chief Lt-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim issued a warning to local and international companies operating in Dubai, against any termination of locals (Emiratis).
As Khaleej Times reports, Lt-General Tamim said that such acts violated the laws and norms of the country and affected the relationship between official institutions and private companies in the Emirates.
He said that the companies must keep UAE nationals and not terminate them in order to preserve the national identity.
Lt-General Tamim said that the Dubai police will “commercially boycott all companies that terminate UAE nationals without giving them any notice or a chance to search for another job under the pretext of the current economic meltdown.”
On the other hand, a 30-year-old Tunisian employee of a bank in Deira attempted suicide by swallowing large quantity of pain-killer tablets and fall unconcious in bank’s hall after he was terminated from his services. The poor guy was was referred to the Public Prosecution on charges of?attempted suicide.