Friday, Nov 21, 2008

Gulf News

Dubai: Nearly 130 employees of City 7, a Dubai-based English television channel, fear losing their jobs as the station's viability is currently being evaluated by its owners.

The employees, who have not been paid for a month-and-half, said they are not hopeful of seeing each other next week. According to them, for some months now their salaries have been paid on the 7th or 8th of each month instead of the 1st.

Employees who spoke to Gulf News on condition of anonymity said there was alot of hearsay on the station's closure, and an e-mail sent by the their Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) put things into perspective for them.

The e-mail hinted on the current economic downslide worldwide and was apologetic on salaries being delayed.

The COO also wrote: "I do applaud your patience and silence in this matter of understanding how you feel since I happen to be in the same situation as all of you. I am sure all of you being expats have financial liabilities which need attention at the end of every month to be able to 'stay afloat'. I would like to personally apologise to all of you for the delay."

The employees, who had planned to make an official complaint about their situation to TecomTecom on Thursday, refrained from doing so after they learned that talks are being held by their senior bosses to improve the situation.

An official statement from the Dubai Media City on Thursday said that, as a member of TecomTecom Investments, they have not received any official complaint from employees of City 7 regarding the non-payment of salaries.

The statement added: "TecomTecom has an established system to ensure that labour disputes of its business partners are processed effectively. The guidelines and processes for the resolution of labour disputes have been published in the Dubai Media CityDubai Media City community guide that can be accessed by all business partners."

The station's owner, Mohidin Bin Hendi, when contacted by Gulf News, said, "The financial crunch has gripped the world and we live in the same world.

"We have to look into the viability of all our companies. Those companies which are not making business we have to look seriously and take a decision," he added.

Clearing desks

In response to the question of whether City 7 is facing closure, Bin Hendi said: "Right now no such decision has been taken. Evaluation of all our company's accounts is being carried out and based on the outcome a decision will be taken on their sustenance."

When asked how many companies he owned, Bin Hendi said: "I do know how many companies are owned by me."

Some City 7 employees told Gulf News that they have started to clear their desks and are going through their files to save work done so far, to add it to their resumes if forced to look for a new job.

"I am still coming to work with the hope that everything will be fixed and I will not lose my job," said one employee.

Another employee who got emotional while making his comments, said: "I do not want to talk about it at all."

The employees however showed sympathy for their COO, one saying: "He has tried to be truthful to us as much he can and there is no point blaming him."

© Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.

 

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