Wednesday, December 28, 2005

No PE for girls' schools

Saudi's Ministry of Education has refused requests by some public girls' schools to build gymnasiums, saying physical education for girls would not be allowed, according to a report in Arab News. The ministry rejected as baseless recent media reports that it would soon introduce physical education as a subject in schools.

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Cab strike over

Wednesday, 28 December 2005
7DAYS

Metro Taxi said yesterday it had reached a deal with several hundred drivers on strike over its proposed cab rent hike but some taxi drivers said they would not return to work until Metro had provided its promise to scrap the increase in writing.

At least 500 taxis were left parked near the company's office in Al Ghusais throughout the day and by yesterday evening more than half of the drivers were back behind the wheel of their cabs.

On Christmas Day, drivers had been informed that the daily rent on their vehicles would be increased by dhs25 or ten per cent. The news resulted in around 500 of Dubai's 5,762 cabs being taken off the road on Monday. Metro has a fleet of 754 taxis.

“Management has decided to withdraw the implementation of the new increase and return to the existing system with immediate effect keeping in mind the welfare and benefit of its drivers and according to the wish of the Human Rights Department of the Dubai Police and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

The company has decided to bear the losses, which will be incurred,” Metro Taxi said in a statement.

Yesterday, drivers said they were only willing to go back to work after the meeting with company officials because they had received a verbal assurance from the police human rights department that Metro would honour the new agreement.

However, General Kamis Al Mazeena of Dubai Police said officers had only been present at Metro's offices yesterday to ensure the strike remained peaceful.

“We cannot guarantee the workers' rights or force solutions on companies.

It's a job that has to be undertaken by the court and the Labour Ministry,” he said. Cab drivers said they have also convinced Metro to stop taking dhs1000 in cash as a security deposit from drivers who need to take emergency leave.

Metro has also said it will study switching to a commission-based payment system for drivers, similar to that of government-owned taxi company Dubai Transport.

The head of Dubai Transport, Mohammad Obaid Al Mullah said yesterday that commission based pay is “better” for everyone

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Life after the oil crash

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