Friday, May 29, 2009

Silver lining to Dubai’s worker cloud


City-state may have lost its reputation as a job magnet, but there are other options to consider

The economic meltdown may have put a dampener on job opportunities in Dubai, but there are opportunities available in other parts of the Middle East.

Thousands of South Africans have flocked to Dubai in the past 10 years to take advantage of what the city has had to offer, but in the past few months retrenchments have resulted in many expats returning home and others not even getting to the city after their contracts were cancelled.

But according to Carol Kleyweg, who owns recruitment agency Waitre d’ with her husband, Marcus, all is not doom and gloom.

“The good news for those still looking for exciting overseas opportunities is that there are still great opportunities in other parts of the Middle East,” says Kleyweg.

The company recently secured the service contract to recruit for a new island project in Qatar.

“We are also looking at other exciting new projects which are under way in other parts of the Middle East, which have not been affected by the recession,” says Kleyweg.

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates — of which Dubai is an emirate — and Doha, the capital of Qatar, as well as neighbouring Bahrain all have big new projects in development. Some of these are opening in the next few months.

Qatar, which is centrally located in the Arabian Gulf, is being promoted as a leading quality destination for business, culture, education, sport and health tourism.

The country offers world-class hotels, restaurants, spa facilities and activities for the whole family in a safe and secure environment, which makes it a particularly attractive destination for South Africans.

Ross Mengel, the managing director of DMA People, says there has been a definite drop in jobs advertised in the Middle East since the last quarter of last year.

According to research done by DMA, based on the job advertisements in the Sunday Times Careers section, there has been a 37% decrease in advertisements for the Middle East, which includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In the fourth quarter of last year, there were 275 ads compared with only 173 in the first quarter of this year.

Going back to the first quarter of last year, the number was 747. However, Mengel says a comparison with this figure is not very useful because since then the classified-type advertisements have been introduced, making it difficult to compare the figures accurately.

Mengel says most of the positions advertised in the region are for engineers, artisans and technical positions, as well as some educational posts.

But even the promise of some work in the Middle East may not be enough to put a stop to one of the positive spin-offs of the financial crisis — the curbing of the brain drain. Expatriates are now returning home as global job shedding gains momentum.

Birgit Thümecke, managing director of Lufthansa Global Telesales, Cape Town, argues that because South Africa’s economy is looking healthier than most, a dramatic increase of international professionals is on the cards for the country.

Source

Friday, May 22, 2009

Middle East’s youth face 'jobs crisis'


DUBAI // The Middle East is facing a major jobs crisis for its young people, according to a new report released by the Dubai School of Government and American researchers.

Nearly 25 per cent of people between the ages of 15 and 24 in the region remain unemployed, compared to a world average of 14 per cent, the research found.

The report, titled Missed by the Boom, Hurt by the Bust: Making Markets work for Young People in the Middle East, is the first of its kind on the impact of the global economic crisis on the region’s youth.

It reveals that in some Arab countries, entry level positions tend to go to migrant workers or older employees rather than fresh graduates, leaving some nations, including Jordan, with more than 70 per cent of people between the ages of 15 and 24 unemployed.

Furthermore, the Middle East is witnessing for the first time an increased number of youth in the total population, with about 32 per cent of the Arab world being made up of those in that age bracket. This figure, coupled with the current economic slowdown, will create further pressure on the job market and reduced number of entry-level positions, the report says.

The final challenge, researchers found, is that many governments are increasing public sector employment and job protection policies while delaying progress towards a greater international integration. The study showed that expanding the role of the private sector will help minimise the impact of the economic downturn.

The report, a joint project between the Dubai School of Government and the Wolfensohn Center for Development at Brookings, based in the US, offers 10 specific policy recommendations in order to prevent a renewed job crisis for the upcoming generation of employees.

Source

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Job hunt ‘is toughest for the young’


DUBAI// More than 80 per cent of unemployed Emiratis are young people between 15 and 24, according to a report released yesterday by the Dubai School of Government and the Wolfensohn Center for Development at Brookings.

The report, “Missed by the Boom, Hurt by the Bust; Making Markets Work for Young People in the Middle East”, was based on three years of research done to assess economic challenges facing young people in the Arab world.

It concluded that almost 25 per cent of them were unemployed, well above the world average of 14 per cent.

“It is really not easy to be a graduate in today’s market,” said Nicolas Deflau, managing director of ND & Associates, a recruitment agency based in Silicon Oasis in Dubai.

“There are so many good, experienced people searching for jobs in the market, and these are the people the fresh graduates are now competing with. Companies would rather hire someone who can hit the ground running, than take the time to train someone from scratch.”

The report found that entry-level positions in the region tended to go to migrant workers or older employees rather than fresh graduates, and more than 70 per cent of the unemployed were youth in some nations, including Jordan.

Many young people considered certain jobs or salaries to be below their worth, the report said.

Long periods of unemployment between school and work were common, with some countries quoting a search period of up to 34 months before finding employment.

“For many, the state of prolonged unemployment reflects a mismatch between expectations and the quality of jobs available.”

The report singled out an employment law passed in February making it harder to sack UAE nationals and protecting their rights in the case of redundancies.

“In the future, firms will be more hesitant to hire young nationals because of new restrictions on dismissing Emirati workers,” it says. “Instead, they will hire foreign nationals (whom they can dismiss) or older Emiratis with a proven record of experience rather than take a risk on hiring a young Emirati with unknown skills or qualifications.”

It called the law a “permanent solution to a temporary problem”, that would do more harm than good.

Furthermore, according to the report, the Middle East is currently witnessing for the first time an increased proportion of young in the total population, with approximately 32 per cent of the Arab world being made up of those between the ages of 15 and 24.

This figure, coupled with the current economic slowdown, would create further pressure on the job market and reduce entry-level positions.

“For the Middle East, the drop in GDP growth comes at an exceptionally bad time, as millions of young people are entering the labour market,” said Tarik Yousef, dean of the Dubai School of Government and non-resident senior fellow at the Wolfensohn Center. “The scale of this challenge can only be addressed by countries forging greater co-operation on youth policies and programmes.”

“This means greater investments in young people from the private sector, government, and civil society.”

“The Middle East is facing a new economic reality, and young people risk bearing the brunt of this downturn. When societies fail to create hope and prosperity for their young, they place their future development in jeopardy,” said James D Wolfensohn, former president of the World Bank and founder of the centre at Brookings. “As leaders gather this week at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, improving the welfare of young people and long-term human capital development should be placed at the top of the agenda.”

The report is the first of its kind in assessing the risks faced by youth in the current economic climate.

Source

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Scoring a job on the big OE just got harder


Being competitive in a tough market is vital, says Val Leveson

Spending a few years working overseas has become a part of Kiwi culture - but with the economic slowdown things have become a lot more insecure and difficult.

A spokeswoman for an international recruitment agency, said that although she did not have specific information and therefore did not want her agency named, anecdotally in Australia there are signs of life in civil infrastructure and the Telco space but "nothing substantial enough for us to be able to comment on".

She said: "In Britain there is activity in most sectors but there is also such an abundance of candidates that finding a job is extremely competitive.

"In Dubai, activity has apparently dried up - relatively speaking."

However, most experts say it's not impossible to find work overseas. Career coach Jaunta Penn says that if you do want to work overseas, do your research.

"Check how your industry is doing in your country of choice - what is the outlook? Particularly in these times, you need to make sure that the information you get is up to date."

Penn says a mistake that many people make when taking a job overseas is not considering all the costs. "Don't think just about salary. How much is it to register your car, what is the cost of accommodation, power and transport? It all counts."

She suggests that part of your research should be talking to recruitment agencies and communicating with people who live in your city of choice. "That can be quite easy these days, with the internet."

She says it's also good to be aware that different countries have different CV requirements. "In the United States, one-page resumes are the standard. In New Zealand, CVs should be four to five pages."

Penn says that, like New Zealand, people overseas get jobs through their networks.

"If you know someone in the city of your choice, they may be a good resource. People you know may also be able to help you choose a good neighbourhood. Many people don't do much research when they go to live in a foreign country, but there are pitfalls - such as landing up living in a dangerous area."

Penn says checking out country and company's websites is also a good idea. "Look at the number of jobs that are available, and in what areas. Also, look at newspaper job sites - they often feature articles that tell you what the situation in the job market is.

Tom O'Neil of cv.co.nz, who does CVs for people all around the world and is currently in the United States attending a five-day workshop, to which he was invited after his contribution to the book What Color is your Parachute, says the same goes for overseas countries as goes for New Zealand. "If you want a job overseas, you need to sell yourself a lot better than a local person. For example, if a local person is an eight out of 10 as far as job requirements

are concerned, and you're an 8 - the likelihood is the local person will still get the job."

He says you need to quantify yourself. "For example, just saying you're a customer services person means nothing. You need to tell your prospective employer that you have won awards and commendations. Think of it in these terms: if Tiger Woods marketed himself as a 'golfer who can hit a ball' - so what - that tells nothing about his brilliance as a player."

O'Neil suggests that you find out about the job market in the country you want to live in before you leave. "Relocating can be very costly. I do believe you can always get work if you're really smart about it and market yourself well - but you don't want to spend months and months waiting for something to be offered in a foreign country. Do the leg work in New Zealand."

He says if you're serious about finding work overseas, be diligent about it. "Working about three hours a night on it - researching and approaching companies - is how to go. Make sure you send lots of CVs out. When phoning companies, don't ask for the human resources departments, go to the departments that could employ you. Tell them about your unique skills - what you can do for them."

Importantly, says O'Neil, have an "elevator speech" ready if you get a phone call showing interest. An elevator speech is about expressing three core skills that you have in bullet points - so if that phone call comes, you're not umming and ahing. "Tailor your elevator speech to a given company if you can - but be ready with it."

As far as London jobs are concerned, Oliver Harris, managing director of contract recruitment company Robert Walters, says: "It is still very much possible for New Zealanders to secure roles in the UK at the moment, although candidates should be prepared for it to take longer to secure a role - if it happens within a few days, this is a bonus."

He says: "To give themselves the best chance, New Zealanders coming to the UK should be as descriptive as possible in their CV. Detailed explanations about products, systems and reports will make their CV much more attractive in the UK market.

"Starting your job search before you leave is also worthwhile, if you have an 'in demand' skill set you can still have interviews lined up on arrival in the UK."

Walters says overall rates of pay have remained stable in Britain and pockets of demand remain. He says the following areas/roles are in highest demand:

* Qualified accountants with solid commercial experience who can make a difference in an organisation; ie, firms are not looking to train up contractors at present but are hiring people who can make an immediate and positive impact on a business.

* At the junior end credit control and debt management roles are key areas for those organisations who are not cash rich at present.

* Risk management and liquidity remain a focus for organisations: market risk engineers are in demand, as are those with specialist knowledge in liquidity, Treasury, ALMO/ALCO - commanding 350-550 ($915-$1440) per day.

* Product controllers - 240-320 per day.

* Financial accountants (specifically those with strong IFRS experience) - 250-400 per day.

* Product and/or financial change management - 400-600; offshoring business analysts - 350-600 per day.

* Structured equity product control - up to 350 per day.

* MI accountants with VBA & Access skills - 325-350 per day.

* Executive and senior-level PAs, as executives need higher levels of support to manage through tough market conditions.

* HR recruitment: temporary employee relations specialists.

* Organisations directing their marketing budget toward digital channels, as demand for online and digital marketers continues to grow rapidly.

Meanwhile, Scott Comte, associate director of Robert Walters IT division in Melbourne, said: "There have been a lot of New Zealand IT professionals interested in the Melbourne market, both from New Zealand and those wanting to return from the UK. The job opportunities for them are the same for any other candidate.

"If they have good development skills in Java or .Net or have specialist experience in telecommunications or banking, they are employable. If they have more generic IT skills, their chances of getting roles are considerably less than this time last year."

Source

Friday, May 8, 2009

THOUSANDS FLOCK TO JOB FAIRS / 900,000 GRADS MAY END UP UNEMPLOYED



MANILA, MAY 2, 2009 (STAR) By Mayen Jaymalin - Around 30,000 jobseekers flocked to the Labor Day job fair, said to be the biggest in history, held yesterday at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, as the government announced a package of non-wage benefits for workers to help them cope with the prevailing global financial crisis.

Similar job fairs were held yesterday in various areas nationwide.

Labor Assistant Secretary Reydeluz Conferido said that as of 4 p.m. yesterday, a total of 5,516 jobseekers nationwide had been hired on the spot.

Conferido said they expected the number of “hatch” or on-the-spot hiring to hit 10,000 by the event’s end.

Alex Aguilar, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) deputy secretary-general, said the union and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) opted to extend the registration process until 7 p.m. to accommodate all applicants.

“There was a heavy turnout of jobseekers so we decided to extend the registration process and to do a repeat of the job fair at the World Trade Center on May 4,” Aguilar said.

As early as 6 a.m. or two hours before the start of registration, jobseekers, mostly new graduates, started to line up outside the venue.

Security guards even reported a minor commotion when some of the applicants jostled to get inside the convention hall.

But policemen said there were no reports of any injury despite the minor commotion.

Aguilar said yesterday’s job fair at the Mall of Asia was the biggest in history and also generated the biggest turnout of jobseekers.

In-demand jobs

Samuel Epondulan, 41, believes finding a job is the most difficult thing to do at this time, but he was proven wrong.

Although there were thousands of jobseekers at the Labor Day job fair, Epondulan was immediately hired to work as a plumber in Qatar.

“I was surprised, I just wanted to try my luck and I never thought I would be hired right then and there,” Epondulan said.

Epondulan has been employed as a plumber in a local company for five years and receives P9,000 monthly salary.

When he heard the news about the country’s biggest job fair, he decided to go and apply for a higher paying job overseas.

Epondulan didn’t realize it, but he has one of the most sought-after skills abroad at the moment.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Jennifer Manalili said one of the most in-demand jobs abroad at this time is that of plumber.

“We have been getting numerous job orders for plumbers and welders from various countries abroad, particularly in the Middle East, but we now having difficulty filling them,” Manalili said.

Like Epondulan, Jesus Mariano went to the job fair and was hired to work as cook at Hotel Sofitel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Older jobseekers

Not only new graduates, displaced workers and the unemployed flocked to the job fair but even those currently employed who are seeking higher paying jobs.

There were, likewise, a number of older jobseekers, among them Fernando Cipriano, 53, who applied for work overseas.

Meantime, during yesterday’s Labor Day celebration at the Mall of Asia, two workers went home with the biggest smile for winning houses and lots in Cavite.

Consolacion Pavilian, a vendor from Intramuros, won a house and lot in Imus, Cavite while Ildefonso Cruz, an employee of Mitsubishi, got a house and lot in Trece Martires.

Non-wage benefits

Vice President Noli de Castro yesterday unveiled a package of non-wage benefits for workers to help them cope with the financial meltdown.

While there was no wage increase, De Castro said the government is exerting all efforts to strengthen the purchasing power of workers.

De Castro announced that the government, particularly the Pag-IBIG Fund, has further increased the available loan for workers from P2 million to P3 million as well as reduced housing loan interest rates.

Interest rates for housing loans ranging from P800,000 to P1 million are now down to 8.5 percent from the previous 10.5 percent, while the interest rate for more than P1.2 million is now 9.5 percent from 10.5 percent.

“Pag-IBIG also approved a special short-term payment for displaced workers payable in three years,” De Castro said, adding that he ordered a study on the feasibility of putting up housing projects near economic zones and call center offices.

“Housing projects in ecozones and areas with call center offices will ensure safety of our workers and help minimize their expenses,” De Castro said.

He further expressed support for the call to provide salary increase to government employees and strengthen provident funds.

The Vice President also called on banks to reduce the interest rates for credit cards.

According to De Castro, he will work for additional Bigas ng Bayan and Botika ng Bayan outlets to provide cheaper medicine and other basic commodities to workers nationwide.

He also directed the DOLE to come up with programs that would provide incentives for companies in economic zones that will promote workers’ organizations or trade unions.

‘Not as bleak’

President Arroyo said yesterday the country’s labor situation is not as bleak as portrayed by pessimists, and thanked the Filipino worker for contributing to protecting the economy amid a global recession.

She said since the onset of the global economic crisis, her administration considered “every day as Labor Day and every day we exerted all efforts to save and protect jobs.”

“Labor Day this year is a timely occasion for the nation to celebrate the resiliency of our economy that has so far protected us from the worst of the global recession and allowed us so far to continue to grow,” Mrs. Arroyo said in her speech during the turnover ceremonies for the new Armed Forces chief at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

President Arroyo also ordered yesterday the implementation of more measures to help government workers cope with the effects of the global recession, including agencies providing free shuttle services for their employees.

‘Resolve cases’

Acting on the request of the TUCP, De Castro urged the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) to speed up the resolution of pending labor cases and ordered a tight watch on companies adopting labor-only contracting scheme.

De Castro said the government will continue to undertake measures to improve the working conditions and lives of workers amid the global crisis.

He said the government will look into the possibility of granting a subsidy to all workers displaced by the ongoing financial crisis.

At this time, De Castro said, the proposal needs serious study because at least P1 billion will be needed to implement the project.

Aguilar said workers are happy that the government is already considering the granting of unemployment insurance for displaced workers.

“This is the number one demand of workers at this time. About 50,000 displaced workers are in dire need of financial help from the government,” he said.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, however, gave assurance that the effect of the financial crisis has already tapered off and there are only few displacements at this time.

Nationwide rallies

Also yesterday, thousands took to the streets in various areas nationwide to demand better working conditions.

“The labor movement has brought us the weekend, the eight-hour work, social security system, basic trade union rights and many other rights. But these historic gains are now being undermined,” said Alliance for Progressive Labor chair Daniel Edralin.

He said the Arroyo administration frustrated the labor movement’s recent efforts to strengthen the workers’ constitutional right to organize through Republic Act 9481 by issuing rules that negated the spirit of the law.

“It has constantly prevented workers from exercising their right to strike through the issuance of assumption of jurisdiction,” he added.

Using the global financial crisis as a pretext, employers are now embarking on a campaign to dismantle the few remaining safeguards for job security the labor movement has fought for all these years.

“The call of ECOP (Employers Confederation of the Philippines) for further deregulation of labor policies, including the relaxing of rules regarding separation pay for workers and their demand for wage freeze, is not the solution,” Edralin said.

Instead of generating jobs, Edralin said the government opted to use the illusion of creating jobs through job fairs.

He said applicants in DOLE’s job fairs will find out that they are being recruited as replacement workers as most of the employment contracts available will be for four to five months only, without security of tenure.

Misplaced priorities

The Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) assailed President Arroyo yesterday for putting the health workers on the sidelines in her Labor Day speech and said her priorities were misplaced.

According to HEAD president Gene Nisperos, the President exhorted the Armed Forces in her speech but did not give a “single iota of support” to health workers.

As of 4 p.m., the Manila Police District-Tactical Operations Center (MPD-TOC) reported that there was a crowd estimated at about 5,000 at the Liwasang Bonifacio.

Several rallyists belonging to Anakpawis, Bayan, Gabriela, Kilusang Mayo Uno and many other militant groups converged at the University of Sto. Tomas, Recto, Welcome Rotonda and other areas in Manila.

The members of the militant groups then marched toward Liwasang Bonifacio, where they held programs.

Unlike in previous years, the rallyists did not to force their way to Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola).

In Davao City, at least 3,000 workers yesterday took to the streets to demand anew the P125 across-the-board increase for private workers and P3,000 wage hike for government employees.

Led by militant groups such as the Southern Mindanao chapters of the Kilusang Mayo Uno and Bayan Muna, the workers represented various labor organizations from different parts of the region, some of whom came all the way from Compostela Valley.

“We challenge the House of Representatives and the Senate to act fast on our demand for the P125 across-the-board increase for private workers and the P3,000 increase we are asking for government employees. Until now, both the Senate and House have not worked on it,” said Bayan Muna regional chairman and former congressman Joel Virador.

Virador said the lawmakers should act on the workers’ demand immediately because the global financial crisis has already taken its toll on laborers who are not well compensated.

Meantime, a party-list lawmaker said that months, if not years, of joblessness or underemployment face the crop of 900,000 college graduates of Class 2009 with the government failing to provide jobs other than those in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

Rep. Raymond Palatino of the Kabataan party-list said the government has miserably failed in its vow to generate jobs especially for fresh graduates.

Palatino said the latest labor force survey showed that a majority of the country’s unemployed were young people aged 15 to 24.

Generally peaceful

The Philippine National Police (PNP) described as generally peaceful the celebration of Labor Day in Manila and other key cities in the country with no untoward incidents reported.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa directed all PNP regional directors to continue implementing their respective security and public safety plans even after the Labor Day activities have been concluded.

“We are thankful to the organizers and participants of the mass actions for their cooperation with the security measures we implemented that resulted in the generally peaceful outcome of Labor Day activities,” Verzosa said. - With Sheila Crisostomo, Edith Regalado, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Sandy Araneta, Paolo Romero and Rainier Allan Ronda

900,000 college graduates may end up jobless or underemployed By Rainier Allan Ronda Updated May 03, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines – The crop of more than 900,000 college graduates of class 2009 are facing the bleak possibility of joblessness or underemployment with the government failing to provide jobs other than those in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, according to a youth party-list lawmaker.

Kabataan partylist Rep. Raymond Pala-tino said that the government has miserably failed in its vow to generate jobs especially for fresh graduates.

Palatino said the latest labor force survey showed that majority of the country’s unemployed were young people aged 15 to 24 years.

“The youth are always at the greatest risk in these economic downturns. Often it is young workers or new graduates who are the hardest hit,” he said.

Palatino said the labor force survey showed that for every 10 unemployed Filipinos, five are in the age group of 15 to 24 years.

The figure accounts for 49.2 percent of the total number of underemployed Filipinos.

If combined with the 25 to 34 age group, he said the share of young unemployed Filipinos accounts for 80 percent of the total number of unemployed Filipinos.

“The rising number of unemployed and underemployed young Filipinos only shows that the Arroyo administration has failed to live up to its promises of generating jobs for Filipinos,” Palatino said.

He said the Arroyo administration’s preoccupation with Charter change would only aggravate the rising rates of joblessness and unemployment.

“Speaker Nograles’ Cha-cha resolution seeking to scrap the 40-percent limit on foreign ownership would only make the economy more vulnerable to foreign authority and to exploitation of our work force’s cheap labor. It clearly does nothing to address the much-needed boost to our local economy for it to be able to provide more decent and adequate jobs and job security for our fresh graduates and the labor force in general,” Palatino said.

The youthful lawmaker also scoffed at the Department of Labor and Employment’s job fair as a desperate attempt to show the government’s achievement in job generation.

He said majority of the jobs available at the job fair was again in the BPO industry or for menial work abroad.

Source