The United Arab Emirates is one of the Middle Eastern states where the government has approved a program for the legal employment of foreign citizens. Thus, for our compatriots, this country can be not only a tourist Mecca, – here you can take advantage of a good opportunity to live for a couple of years in an international environment, at the crossroads of different lifestyles, work in international companies, earn money, after all. This is what our conversation with Olga SINITSA, an employee of the Kyiv Youth Labor Center, is about.
– Tell readers of 'Zagranitsa', what types of work are currently in demand in the UAE?
– All specialties related to the tourism business and the service sector. The recreation industry is developing very rapidly. Last year, for example, about 300 hotels were opened in the UAE. The best hotels in the world imply the best service in the world, since their clients are tourists and business representatives from different countries. Not a single hotel, not a single restaurant is empty, which means they meet their clients' expectations for quality service, which is provided by a numerous international staff – these are waiters and bartenders in restaurants, salespeople in supermarkets, maids, cleaning staff, administrators, receptionists in hotels, massage therapists, fitness trainers, lifeguards at recreation centers.
– As far as we know, at the end of July, the first stage of interviews of our citizens for work in the United Arab Emirates took place at the KMYC, and it was conducted directly by employers from the UAE. Please tell us more about this project.
– Yes, at the end of July we had guests from the UAE – Doctor Samer Salibi, General Director of the large recruiting company Arabian Employment Service Centers, and his partner Mr. Sadek Abdel Meguid, HR manager and head of the training department of Americana Group Corporation. Americana Group is one of the largest associations, represented in many countries of the Middle East. It includes production enterprises and service enterprises; it provides the entire range of works and services, so to speak, 'from field to table': growing, harvesting, packaging, processing food products and supplying them to large stores, hotels, and restaurants. Americana Group is part of the international network of fast food restaurants such as 'Friday's', 'Pizza Hut', 'Baskin Robbins', etc. In addition, Americana Group is currently opening a new chain of casual dining restaurants – a traditional service system. Thus, the need for qualified personnel is very great.
– Do representatives of Arab businesses have experience working with citizens of post-Soviet countries?
– Yes. For example, our guests worked quite actively with staff from the Baltic states. However, with the expansion of the EU, the flow of Baltic citizens wishing to work abroad has reoriented toward the West. Arabian Employment Service Centers always opens new opportunities for business partnership with interest, has been actively working with Belarus for a year now, and intends to expand this cooperation. They contacted our agency on the recommendation of the Ukrainian Embassy, since KMYC is a state structure with many years of experience in international relations and a responsible approach to personnel selection. The first negotiations with Arab employers and representatives of the recruiting company were successful, and we are currently selecting personnel for the Americana Group corporation.
– What are the requirements for workers?
– Age from 18 to 30 years old, conversational English, and a desire to work. And also – friendliness, politeness, openness. These qualities are always paid attention to during interviews. Preference is given to the female sex: among applicants, the ratio of girls to guys is approximately 80:20. The minimum contract term is two years. During this time, you can gain excellent experience of international communication, get acquainted with other cultures, and acquire professional skills.
– Tell us more about the work itself.
– As a rule, all companies conduct their own training, so no professional skills are required. Thanks to the training, each person at a specific work site will develop the necessary professional skills. A work visa is provided based on the employment contract. The contract provides for a mandatory monthly vacation, an eight-hour working day, and one day off per week. Of course, there is also medical insurance. As for remuneration, it consists of several parts: salary, bonus, free accommodation, and meals. Currently, 70% of Arabian Employment Service Centers' business is personnel selection for the tourism industry. And given that Arabian Employment Service Centers works only with five-star hotels, the staff has a rare opportunity to use both the beaches and various service centers of these hotels. I want to note that the amount of salary also depends on the person themselves – how well they speak English, how well they work, etc.
– The East has its own peculiarities. How difficult is it for Ukrainians to adapt in the UAE?
– You know, many will probably be surprised by the fact that indigenous residents in the Arab Emirates are only 15%. The remaining 85% are representatives of all countries of the world, both tourists and workers. In addition, all multinational corporations have a special training course for newcomers, which helps to quickly and painlessly join the team, become a member of a single multinational team. The Americana Group corporation employs representatives of 21 nationalities.
– How does the selection of participants for this project take place?
– Preliminary selection of candidates is carried out by KMTS. Not only Kyiv residents but also residents of other Ukrainian cities can contact us. After a conversation, a manager will recommend you for an interview with representatives of our partners. The final decision is made by Dr. Salibi or a representative of the employer, who are to fly to Kyiv in a month and a half to two months. If the interview with them goes successfully, you will receive an employment contract. This document is printed in English and contains the most detailed information regarding work, payment and living conditions. You can take it home, discuss it with your family, consult a lawyer, make a copy. If everything suits you, you sign the contract, and we begin to prepare a package of documents for obtaining a work visa.
– How long does it take to prepare all documents?
– On average, the processing time takes from one to three months. If you are going to work at a state enterprise, it will take even less, and the procedure itself will be simpler. We send all prepared documents directly to the employer and to the recruiting agency. They, for their part, prepare all the necessary documents, after which they send us a copy of your work visa by fax. You go to the UAE, where representatives of the employer and/or the recruiting agency meet you at the airport. There, on the spot, you sign another work contract, the content of which is completely identical to the document you signed earlier. This document is also printed in English, and you can carefully reread it and verify it against the one you signed in Kyiv. A serious approach to paperwork is the key to the employer's responsible attitude towards you.
In addition, you will have the phone number of Dr. Salibi or his secretary and the phone numbers of our employees, so at any moment you can discuss a troubling issue. And, of course, we will inform your relatives of all information about your work and stay in the UAE. We always support each of our clients – from the moment of signing the contract until a happy return home.
Perhaps I am paying too much attention to these issues, but, believe me, it is better for people to know this rather complex mechanism and not be afraid of traveling to such a distant and unfamiliar country for us. All who are interested in this information, we await at KMTS – our employees will advise you on all questions regarding this project.
Interviewed by Yekaterina PROVOZINA.
Photo from the archive of «Заграницы».