Shadya

So they are banning everyone from getting a driving licence unless you are in a professional occupation and/or have a university degree, which rules me out. So far this strange regulation only applies to Sharjah but I guess the entire UAE will soon follow. Driving the populace on to the buses, presumably.

Bambi in Abu Dhabi

So, what about cabbies? Are they gonna have to be graduates?

Confucius

I'm planning on marketing those 50cc donkeys that don't require licenses...The Toronado SN21 will be on sale in Q2 2009...

It's better for everyone...Wouldn't people want to at least interact with cabbies and also the cabbies would know all about the town and the culture of the country...Think of the endless possibilities...
Plus, the boys at Damac, Omniyat, Nakheel, Emaar, etc, all need well paying jobs that is in line with their ambition...

Eva

http://archive.gulfnews.com/nation/T.../10263687.html


Seriously though, I don't get how this is going to help......
Unless it is more of an employment policy than traffic policy.
I don't really want to think its just another kick in the ribs for those who need it least.......

Confucius

When did anyone say that the laws here were fair anyway...

Eva

No one did and I for sure don't believe that however what I mean is
it ain't like maids have two maseratis and gardners have a fleet of shelbys
How can it help reduce number of cars on the road?

Confucius

Only way to reduce cars is to reduce the hoards of new people coming in...

Eva

The group of workers they are hitting are lower income therefore not all out buying cars.It'll take say 4 times as long to reduce number of cars by penalising that group as opposed to say expat schoolrunmoms or professionals who can afford two or three trophy cars.............

Musicman, your reference to 'reduce the hoards of people coming in '. Who will then do these jobs?
I ponder whether this is in part about Employment; about finding jobs for the not so wealthy, not so skilled Emiratis.
M.O to reduce stigma attached to such roles: make it more difficult for the subcontinentals who traditionally fill these jobs to get to
work,work shift patterns, have transport to get tools on site i.e gardners.Gradually fill the gap with Nationals.
Maybe I am just being sillier than usual.

**I cannot understand why Nurses are included in this group???

Shadya

Don't most nurses. hotel employees and most construction workers get free buses to/from work anyway? The new law will basically stop them having a social life outside work, which may be the intention. The law will hit the many thousands of office workers who don't usually get free transport. Mind you alot of them are car pooling these days. Taxi drivers are presumably exempt so long as "driver" is their designated employment on their labour card.

Blue Cat

only applies to those residing in Sharjah, and if your spouse drives then so can you. Weird but true.

admon

I assume that this applies to:

- those from the 'non visa on arrival countries'
- and only new arrivals, or that means revoking the license of 1000's..

Eva

[QUOTE=admon;7030140]I assume that this applies to:

- those from the 'non visa on arrival countries'
- and only new arrivals, or that means revoking the license of 1000's..


If you really care..assumption isn't always the most reliable way forward allegedly.

admon

Can I have that in english please?

Norm_uk

They are actually only banning some occupations it would seem...like nurses, maids, cleaners, etc as they feel they don't need to drive in order to carry out their job anyways.

At least they are doing something....of course building decent infrastructure, upping the quality and variety of public transport and encouraging certain companies to allow their staff to work from home where possible would make a lot more sense!

N.

lionheart

I believe that "some" actually means eighty-six in this case.