Why Should Firms Leave Sharjah?

Today, Dubai has evolved as a freewheeling commercial centre where innumerable glass towers rise above bustling spice markets. This is a city known for being glitzy, glamorous and remarkably liberal compared to other regions of the Middle East. Numerous restaurants in this place offer world-class cuisines and the nightlife here is simply sizzling. Hidden from all the glitz and glamour lies the sorrowful lives of the expats who toil hard to fend for their family and make their ends meet.
Life is not as easy as it looks for workers coming from other countries. Recently there was a proposal to force companies that have labour camps in Sharjah to register and this can result in the firms leaving the emirate. It is seen that to innumerable companies camp scores of workers in Sharjah to take advantage o the lower cost of living in Sharjah. This cost-saving attractiveness of Sharjah may evaporate if it imposed restrictions, especially because of the long commutes on congested roads linking Sharjah to Dubai.
“Those who have to commute a total of four hours, versus those who commute two hours per day, are not as productive because the long commute would definitely affect their productivity; it would affect their satisfaction and at the end of the day it would impact the work on the job site. At the end of the day, the cost savings of Sharjah wouldn’t be there if there are restrictions,” said Samir Khosla, the Vice-Chairman of Dynamic Staffing Services.
Mr. Khosla also said that housing workers in Sharjah has benefited only the companies with a large number of employees and such companies could actually save up to 30 per cent by following this method. He said his company contracted 400 employees and had chosen to keep them closer to job sites and save the costs of commuting, both in transportation expenses and lost hours on the job.
Not long ago, Sharjah witnessed many incidents of labour unrest and that’s the reason it plans to enact a law that would require companies housing labourers in the emirate to become registered Sharjah companies. UAE has stepped up the process of improving workers’ rights, which would certainly increase the efficiency and satisfaction of the employees. This is vital as the country’s rising inflation is making it tough to attract and retain workers.