Cautious change on price of fuel

A reader says any plan to remove the fuel subsidy should be studied carefully. Other topics: school fee hike, workers' welfare, beggars

A reader says any plan to remove the fuel subsidy should be studied carefully. Christopher Pike / The National

I refer to your editorial The case against lower fuel prices (June 17). First, we need to know what would be the real market price if the subsidies are lifted. Fuel in the UK, for example, is heavily taxed, which is why the cost is high. The decision to remove the subsidy is an economic, social and strategic one, which must be carefully studied by the government.

In the fuel retail business, operators earn small margins on sales. Currently, the price is capped so petrol stations run at a loss. In fact, the car wash and LPG retail business fetch better margins.

A decision to remove the subsidy will improve retail profitability and encourage competition, assuming that the market is deregulated too.

On the flip side, any increase in fuel costs will put inflationary pressure on the economy, pushing prices higher. In my opinion there should be a gradual reduction in the subsidy over a period of three to five years and the savings should be invested in clean energy. It’s no secret that the UAE has one of the largest carbon footprints and so any increase in the price of petrol and diesel would reduce consumption and cut carbon dioxide emissions.

Randall Mohammed, Dubai

Will higher fees mean better pay for teachers?

As the article (Fees to rise at 117 schools in Dubai, June 17) says, schools need to attract the best teachers. But many raise their fees and still pay very low salaries to teachers and offer them negligible benefits. Even teachers with masters degrees are paid far less than most other professionals.

Sarah Gradek Harger, Dubai

I’ve had to transfer my child to an “affordable” school after six amazing years. This was due to personal circumstances. It was either that or leave Dubai. The new school really isn’t the best and is cheap as chips in comparison to others. But it does the best it can for the kids with what it has and the teachers’ salaries are awful.

Sara Cochrane, Dubai

Schools get so much money from renting out facilities. I really don’t buy the claim that they raise fees to improve facilities. And most teachers are not paid well.

Jamie Nicole, Dubai

Workers’ welfare was long due

I am glad to know about the initiative to put an end to the exploitation of Indian workers (Tighter employment rules for Indian workers in UAE to curb crooked job agents, June 8).

It's long overdue and I sincerely hope that there aren't any loopholes still to enable the exploitation of workers. I am still fuming about the fact that the families of the Al Ain bus crash victims continue to wait for their payout (Dh3.2m blood money for bus crash victims' families still held by Bangladeshi ministry, June 5).

Sabine Tall, Germany

It’s a good step. Other Asian countries should do this too. Hopefully, it will work.

Dave Pryce, Dubai

Some beggars exploit Ramadan

I have sympathy for beggars (Sometimes beggars are really in need, June 9). Nevertheless, one must be careful about those who try to take advantage of others, especially during Ramadan.

For example, on many occasions I encountered individuals who asked for financial help saying that they had a problem with their vehicle, did not have the money they needed to fix it and how desperate they were to reach their destination.

Initially I believed them, but when I met the same person twice in one week, I realised that what they said was not true.

One is likely to find these people mainly at petrol stations, in car parks, at tourist spots and near mosques.

Imran Iqbal, Abu Dhabi