48 h/week, is it worth it
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2016
Location: Canada
Posts: 6
48 h/week, is it worth it
Hi
I am about to discuss an offer in Abu Dhabi and I noticed working there is 48 hours/week, that is 20% more than the standard 40 h/week. I searched the forum and did not find any discussion about this when mentioning a package, most people talking about the TAX Free salary only !! So do working in UAE worth it ??
To put things in numbers if a salary here is i.e
$100,000 = take home +/- $65,000
working overtime 20%
$125,000 = take home +/- $78,000 (considering 1.25 for over time)
offer is $100,000 (they are assuming one will save the 35% tax), for basic only
Considering the above (assuming the accommodation allowance 25% is enough to pay), the saving is just 22%, and if the accommodation allowance is not enough than it will start getting equal. Not to mention settling costs and losing of rent at the end (as it will end up working contract is finished before the rent contact, losing of 4-6 months for rent already paid in advance)
So,,,,, is it worth it moving to UAE ?? maybe if working long and counting on the end of service payment.!!!
I am about to discuss an offer in Abu Dhabi and I noticed working there is 48 hours/week, that is 20% more than the standard 40 h/week. I searched the forum and did not find any discussion about this when mentioning a package, most people talking about the TAX Free salary only !! So do working in UAE worth it ??
To put things in numbers if a salary here is i.e
$100,000 = take home +/- $65,000
working overtime 20%
$125,000 = take home +/- $78,000 (considering 1.25 for over time)
offer is $100,000 (they are assuming one will save the 35% tax), for basic only
Considering the above (assuming the accommodation allowance 25% is enough to pay), the saving is just 22%, and if the accommodation allowance is not enough than it will start getting equal. Not to mention settling costs and losing of rent at the end (as it will end up working contract is finished before the rent contact, losing of 4-6 months for rent already paid in advance)
So,,,,, is it worth it moving to UAE ?? maybe if working long and counting on the end of service payment.!!!
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,467
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
Pimping aint easy!
Yes you get tax free cash here but they work you for it.
I work a 47.5hr week. It isn't unusual.
Yes you get tax free cash here but they work you for it.
I work a 47.5hr week. It isn't unusual.
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,520
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
I believe most people's contracts state 48 hours as that's the standard outlined by the Ministry of Labour. The reality differs. Most western expats work Sunday - Thursdays and usually around 9 hours a day inclusive of lunch. That's 45 hours.
The unlucky ones (mostly non-western) will work six days a week, from Saturday through Thursday, and that's where the 48 comes from.
Just ask the prospective company what a typical week is like.
The unlucky ones (mostly non-western) will work six days a week, from Saturday through Thursday, and that's where the 48 comes from.
Just ask the prospective company what a typical week is like.
#4
Banned
Joined: Oct 2015
Location: Luton
Posts: 1,162
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
They work you to the bone here, early starts late finishes. And if your in construction you will work Saturday.
People here are disposable, do not think you are coming here for an easy life.
People here are disposable, do not think you are coming here for an easy life.
#5
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
Your maths (such as they are) are only valid if you could have a job at home that guaranteed you overtime. As an employer, I'd be extremely wary of anyone who had your attitude and was applying for a $100k job.
#6
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
If you expect a porn star salary you need to be willing to be screwed once in a while......nothing is for free.
So you work 20% more, big deal.
Better yet, stay home, think you might be better off. Because here you will encounter a longer week and some other challenges which might send you fleeing.
Choice is yours, don't be fooled by us, we are pretending to have a great time...but the struggle is real and the sacrifices worth the monetary (only) reward
So you work 20% more, big deal.
Better yet, stay home, think you might be better off. Because here you will encounter a longer week and some other challenges which might send you fleeing.
Choice is yours, don't be fooled by us, we are pretending to have a great time...but the struggle is real and the sacrifices worth the monetary (only) reward
#7
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
Aye, 48 hr week is standard contract here in KSA. Working for a construction company, all the sites work six full days a week.
At Head Office we get off lightly - Sunday to Thursday full days, and every alternate Saturdays for 5 hrs. They call it a 'half day' but the timing is such that you can't do anything in the morning, and by the time you finish, it's mid afternoon anyway.
There was proposal a couple of years that was agreed by the Shoura Council ,to reduce to a 40hr week to encourage the lazy locals into the private sector, but it kind of got waylaid at Cabinet approval stage. If you're lucky, you'll get to work only five ( long ) days a week.
At Head Office we get off lightly - Sunday to Thursday full days, and every alternate Saturdays for 5 hrs. They call it a 'half day' but the timing is such that you can't do anything in the morning, and by the time you finish, it's mid afternoon anyway.
There was proposal a couple of years that was agreed by the Shoura Council ,to reduce to a 40hr week to encourage the lazy locals into the private sector, but it kind of got waylaid at Cabinet approval stage. If you're lucky, you'll get to work only five ( long ) days a week.
#8
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
My contract is 50hrs, minus lunches, so 45.
My contract doesn't talk about needing to take calls and deal with shit on Fridays for the rest of the world or rearrange days so I start early or finish late to accompany work in Australia or the US.
Companies don't pay you to come here and toss it off on holiday. They pay the bigger bucks because there's work to be done.
I reckon you should ask your current firm to give you 20% extra hours for 25% extra pay and see what they say.
My contract doesn't talk about needing to take calls and deal with shit on Fridays for the rest of the world or rearrange days so I start early or finish late to accompany work in Australia or the US.
Companies don't pay you to come here and toss it off on holiday. They pay the bigger bucks because there's work to be done.
I reckon you should ask your current firm to give you 20% extra hours for 25% extra pay and see what they say.
#10
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Joined: Jul 2016
Location: Canada
Posts: 6
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
So each one case is different, and depends on from where he/she is coming,
>@ Scamp "Companies don't pay you to come here and toss it off on holiday. They pay the bigger bucks because there's work to be done".... is that what r u telling the workers from Asia !!!
Demography of UAE
16.6% Emirati (citizenry)
•23.0% other Arabs
•42.3% Asians (subcontinent)
•12.1% other Asians
•6.0% other expatriates
With Brits making 240,000, US/Canadian 40,000, Aussies 7,000, French/German 10,000 of the 6%, one can see why to work in UAE originating from which country, and the definition of "bigger bucks"
>@ Scamp "Companies don't pay you to come here and toss it off on holiday. They pay the bigger bucks because there's work to be done".... is that what r u telling the workers from Asia !!!
Demography of UAE
16.6% Emirati (citizenry)
•23.0% other Arabs
•42.3% Asians (subcontinent)
•12.1% other Asians
•6.0% other expatriates
With Brits making 240,000, US/Canadian 40,000, Aussies 7,000, French/German 10,000 of the 6%, one can see why to work in UAE originating from which country, and the definition of "bigger bucks"
#11
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
So each one case is different, and depends on from where he/she is coming,
>@ Scamp "Companies don't pay you to come here and toss it off on holiday. They pay the bigger bucks because there's work to be done".... is that what r u telling the workers from Asia !!!
Demography of UAE
16.6% Emirati (citizenry)
•23.0% other Arabs
•42.3% Asians (subcontinent)
•12.1% other Asians
•6.0% other expatriates
With Brits making 240,000, US/Canadian 40,000, Aussies 7,000, French/German 10,000 of the 6%, one can see why to work in UAE originating from which country, and the definition of "bigger bucks"
>@ Scamp "Companies don't pay you to come here and toss it off on holiday. They pay the bigger bucks because there's work to be done".... is that what r u telling the workers from Asia !!!
Demography of UAE
16.6% Emirati (citizenry)
•23.0% other Arabs
•42.3% Asians (subcontinent)
•12.1% other Asians
•6.0% other expatriates
With Brits making 240,000, US/Canadian 40,000, Aussies 7,000, French/German 10,000 of the 6%, one can see why to work in UAE originating from which country, and the definition of "bigger bucks"
#12
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
Most foreigners in UAE work longer hours than they do in their home countries. Not all add a great deal of value.
#13
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2016
Location: Canada
Posts: 6
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
@Millhouse... I am Canadian. The question was "is it worth it", not about working hours,
so to put the question in a different way "The offer is 30% increase in salary with 20% increase in work" would one take that offer ?? without taking other factors which could make it 20-20
I understand any one working in UAE is having a better situation there than working back home for that person case, without talking about nationality..
so to put the question in a different way "The offer is 30% increase in salary with 20% increase in work" would one take that offer ?? without taking other factors which could make it 20-20
I understand any one working in UAE is having a better situation there than working back home for that person case, without talking about nationality..
#14
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
@Millhouse... I am Canadian. The question was "is it worth it", not about working hours,
so to put the question in a different way "The offer is 30% increase in salary with 20% increase in work" would one take that offer ?? without taking other factors which could make it 20-20
...
so to put the question in a different way "The offer is 30% increase in salary with 20% increase in work" would one take that offer ?? without taking other factors which could make it 20-20
...
What would you do with those extra 8 hours a week? If its spending time with a beautiful, growing family, then the loss of those hours may not justify the extra income. If, on the other hand, you'd be in UAE alone, what would you be doing that makes those hours so important?
As to whether the 30% more money is worth it, again, that depends on your own personal circumstances. Do you NEED that money, or would it just be nice? For many, an additional 30% in take-home pay makes the difference between not being able to save, and being able to do so. And that can make a huge difference to your life.
#15
Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it
@Millhouse... I am Canadian. The question was "is it worth it", not about working hours,
so to put the question in a different way "The offer is 30% increase in salary with 20% increase in work" would one take that offer ?? without taking other factors which could make it 20-20
I understand any one working in UAE is having a better situation there than working back home for that person case, without talking about nationality..
so to put the question in a different way "The offer is 30% increase in salary with 20% increase in work" would one take that offer ?? without taking other factors which could make it 20-20
I understand any one working in UAE is having a better situation there than working back home for that person case, without talking about nationality..
Using your completely reworded question, isn't a 30% increase in pay for a 20% increase in work a mathematical no-brainer?
Like others though, I am a bit perplexed if you are a professional person that you are counting hours. I have never had a contract that stated 48 hours I must admit, but have worked that and more for the majority of my working life. It is expected of professionals and even in the UK which has certian European working hour directives, many professionals are expected to sign a piece of paper "opting" out.