The exodus of expats looking for jobs in United Arab Emirates (UAE), following coronavirus outbreak, are facing the grinding reality of returning to their homelands, despite promises by government to retain workforce. And as the numbers ramp up, it has been estimated by the International Labour Organization that some 500,000 Indians have solely applied to leave the nation.
The prolonged situation lasting since March of this year, has left people across industries to re-think of the lasting inflation and ongoing recession, as the main reasons to abandon the gulf nation. The economic toll on the jobs in UAE also means that it will have to bear the brunt for a longer period of time than expected, since its reliance on expatriate workforce is very high. Also, combating factors like tourism, which is a major part of the UAE’s GDP, won’t be an easy ask in the circumstances.
In the UAE, primal outbreaks in areas henpecked by low-income workers catalyzed strict lock down, yet the infectious agent spread rapidly. This occurred in part because of the governmental disorder that allowed gathering of families during Ramadan.
Only last month, it was reported that Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is letting go hundreds of employees. According to multiple media sources, the numbers is put at 400 by the third-biggest lender of the nation, which vowed not cutting the staff earlier.
Only two weeks prior to that, the President of Emirates said Sir Tim Clark said, the airline is set to cut 9,000 jobs. He informed that the airline had already cut a tenth of its staff, but “we will probably have to let go of a few more, probably up to 15%.”
Jobs in UAE are in a spot of bother at this moment, and with the growing number of unemployment, UAE’s GDP is holistically doomed for even darker prospects. Clearly enough, the health crisis has put the UAE on back foot, and even with the setup of temporary labour market to help those seeking to earn a living, the ripples caused due to virus are far from parting.
