Hope and a little scepticism at future pay rises

Residents who are considering leaving the UAE over the high cost of living and stagnant salaries say they hope to be among those tipped to get a 4.8 per cent pay rise next year.

The figure comes from The Total Remuneration Study by global consulting company Mercer and predicts “most industries” in the UAE will receive a pay increase next year – with the strongest push to come in pharmaceuticals and health care.

But many residents working in health care say their wages have not increased in almost 10 years.

“We in health care haven’t had a pay rise, or increment, for the past nine years,” a senior nurse from the UK, who works for a large hospital in Abu Dhabi, wrote on The National’s Facebook page.

“There have been cuts to the benefits package overall.”

She said a lack of salary increases combined with rising school fees had caused some of her colleagues to leave the UAE, and a number of families being split up in search of cheaper tuition fees.

“A lot of staff are still here but have sent their children home to study,” she said.

Another reader claimed she had not received a pay increase in seven years, since she joined her company. She has taken to spending on her credit card to fund her lifestyle.

“You cut going out for dinner and buying fancy clothes but there are some basic supplies you still need,” said the Iranian woman, 44, who has lived in the UAE for 15 years.

“You could see a difference in the inflation but this year it is unbelievably massive.”

She said even the costs associated with her three pet dogs, such as food and veterinary bills, have rocketed.

She has repeatedly asked for a salary increase in the past five years, only to be refused. None of her colleagues has received rises either.

“If it gets to a point where I cannot survive it, I won’t have any other choice than to leave,” she said.

“You don’t want to be here and chased by the banks for debt.

“I have seen bad things that have happened here to senior managers who have lost their jobs and can’t pay their bills or credit card payments. I don’t want to end up in a situation like that.”

The Mercer study found only 3 per cent of companies imposed salary freezes this year compared with 10 per cent in 2016.

The study found that overall, salaries in the UAE increased by 4.5 per cent this year.

It said that the biggest pay increase – 5 per cent – was awarded to those in the life sciences sector.

Looking to next year, real wage growth, or salary increase minus inflation, is also expected to steadily rise in the region, with the life sciences, consumer goods and high-tech industries generating more employment opportunities and salary increases, the study said.

We in health care haven’t had a pay rise, or increment, for the past nine years SENIOR BRITISH NURSE