(Cont)

The rising inflation and the high increase in public sector pay packages due also to from oil export in several Countries of the Middle East (i.e. 15-25% in the UAE, 15 % in KSA), have had an impact on the private sector compensation.

According to this study, average pay rises varied by nationality. Asian and particularly Indians, due to growing opportunities in their home country, had the fastest growing (7.4%)They were followed by Arab nationals ( 6.8%) while western expats had the lowest average increase ( 5.1%).

At least, the report predicts that salaries will continue to rise. Those growing costs for companies may force some business to relocate elsewhere or to outsource to other parts of the world but also to invest more in the recruitment and training of Gulf nationals and particularly in Gulf national women.

Mr Olivier Moaligou from the French Trade Mission and Mrs Dominique Audion from Safa C.B presented then two other ways of recruiting young people, which despite many advantages for French Companies are rarely used. The first one is to recruit a V.I.E ( Volontaire International pour l’ Emploi) trough the French organisation UBIFRANCE. This organism provides to all interested Companies, young European people qualified in various sector of activities, for a mission of a minimum 6 Months (max. 2 years) for a monthly net salary contained between Euro 1.100 & 2.900. The second one is to welcome high qualified trainees coming from French University for a limited period and benefit from motivated students with updated qualifications at limited cost. Both formulas benefits also to VIE and trainees, as they give them a chance to work in an international environment.
Finally, Mr Abdul Nasser Fayad- Member of the Arab Board of the International Arbitration- Legal Consultant from Hikmat Fayad & Associates took the opportunity of this conference to update the audience on legal employment issues in the UAE: visa, employment contract and general questions about labour law.