No

Just being here means you're in the system , there's no way you can avoid it . A large percentage of the working populace in the Gulf are treated like dogshit.

We're part of it we fuel it and by our actions we condone it . I'ts wrong in every regard . Some expats think this is Utopia and they're living the dream . Their Utopia is someone else's nightmare.

Ive wrestled with my morals for many years on the rights and wrongs of this place . The whole ethos of this part of the world stinks to high heaven but we're all on the bus people and there's always the next stop to get off if it gets a bit too much .

You're a good man. I just hope you're out of the country when the "workers" begin to riot, rape and pillage-

I actively boycott certain places based on their treatment of staff/political stances/corporate values...not easy to do over here though as most of them are terrible.

N.

I do remember none of the other chaps around the table were very happy about his wish not to tip

On the major thread; you can take it to the nth degree. One of the major contractors on a major oil/gas project in saudi is the worse I have ever seen when it comes to staff treatment. Would I therefore not buy the super cheap petrol in Saudi because the plant that processed it exploited its contract employees during the construction phase ?

My only concern is that unhappy exploited employees in a restaurant kitchen are less likely to wash their hands after going for a dump

Mr Pink (Steve Buscemi) only tips if the waitress provides service above and beyone the expected level of service. Mr Blue/Black/Brown/White (?? can't remember - Harvey Keitel) replies saying something like, "so if she doesn't give you a blow job you won't tip her" Mr Pink eventually puts in a tip due to peer pressure of his gang members following the explanation that waitresses working on minimum wage require tips to make a living (feed their kids, etc).

I may watch that film tonight - not seen it for years.

I generally tip 10% of the bill (zero if service charge is included already).

I live my life here as blinkered as possible otherwise my conscience would be telling me not to live here (never mind shop here) at all.

Good point, always worth sticking to good old fashioned P's & Q's with people serving and showing a level of respect to hopefully avoid shite on toast.

Exactly.

It's difficult when you look at 10% service charge included - knowing full well it won't go to the guy/girl serving you.

But then you're seen as a bastard for not tipping again etc.

We generally tip, but rarely 10% of the bill. 1200 dhs at the Meat Co. did not warrant a 120dhs tip.

Touched for the very first time.

barber told my mate not to tip in front of his boss the other day because he just takes it

we said we'd leave it in the chair for him

you do what you can in this place, we're having the afternoon off for Diwali

Interesting responses. I said nothing specifically about the lowest paid workers (in the ME or anywhere), just asked generally.

Let me be more specific. You like a cafe/restaurant and have been a few times, but then find out that the owner, shouts at staff behind the scenes, is something of a bully and has sacked people for no good reason. Would you continue to go there, or would you find somewhere else? Would you even try to do anything about it?

We all know that numerous people in the ME are poorly treated, but just shrugging and saying that's the case doesn't help anyone. There are companies where staff are treated better, so surely it is preferable to patronise them, rather than those who mistreat - if at all possible?

I don't know about anywhere else but Jumeirah's policy is.....

The 10% service on the bill is put into a collective fund. a % of that is used to improve facilities at their Oasis Village staff accommodation (like cinema/games/ etc ) and the rest is divided out to ALL staff in the hotel including the guys who sweep the paths or do the maintenace and have no contact with the clients so therefore do not get tips.
If customers leave additional monies on top of the 10%, that is put in a pot and divided amongst the staff of THAT restaurant...which is normal practice in any decent restaurant :-)

Ignore him, Scamp: everybody who's ever seen Reservoir Dogs remembers the opening scene.

I've asked some of the waiters/esses in my favourite watering holes if they actually get the tips, and they do, which is good. But I'm reluctant to tip when there's a compulsory service charge, although generally I will tip if the service has been good, and will just consider the service charge as part of the costs of the meal. Taxi drivers get tips if they don't drive or behave like twats. I try to avoid patronising companies which treat their staff badly, but I don't try that hard...

Bit of a difficult one, because if no custom, then the restaurant might fold and therefore said employees wouldn't have a job and may end up being sent home.

However, if I ever heard a boss being a git to his employees I would have to wade in on the "concerned customer can't believe you treat people like that" sort of front because I am a gob-shite who couldn't help herself!

A trainee made a mistake with my account at a well known KSA mobile company, and when I went in to complain, the manager insisted on dragging the trainee back to the store (on his day off) and get him to apologise to me personally, and repay the loss out of his own pocket...

I told the manager that I wouldn't accept such a thing as the guy is a trainee, and if he's made an error it is his fault, not the trainees, and the company should pay, or he should give me the refund himself

Got my money back, from the company, and I closed my account, and changed to a different mobile company.