I refer to your article When to tip, what to tip, and what about that service charge? (January 31). Most restaurants are overpriced and the service is poor. Take, for example, the bottle of water, which is sold at five times its rack price at many restaurants and hotels. Why is this so?
Suhail Ahmed, Dubai
It’s not good to tip, although it has become a habit for many of us.
Badraeniesa Panker, Abu Dhabi
Medical schools will boost health plan’s well-being
As a medical professional I can say that building more medical colleges and nursing schools is the right way to go (Dubai in 10-year health plan, Jan 29).
More institutions will mean more Emiratis will join the medical and nursing professions, which in turn will boost the health care sector.
Your report says that three new medical colleges will be built in 10 years. They will surely attract other healthcare companies and create jobs. More importantly, medical colleges will encourage research, which is important for the sector to grow.
It is also heartening to know that the authorities are considering improvements in the field of nursing. Almost every country has a shortage of nurses.
The only way to recruit more is to improve their working conditions and wages, and provide them with opportunities for training and professional development.
Nina Nagpal, Dubai
Mothers have rights too
I refer to the article Agency in Dubai puts maternal needs first (January 24). Motherhood needs more recognition. Maternity leave is important for the mother and her child to bond. Money is important, but it's not everything.
A happy employee is likely to be more productive. Part-time work options should be made more easily available. After all, raising the new generation is an important job.
A lot of women drop out of the workforce once they have children, as there are hardly any part-time options.
Jayadevi Machaya Palekanda, Dubai
I have a small business with fewer than 50 employees. I recently gave one of my members of staff four months’ maternity leave. The law sets minimum standards. It does not say that you can only give 45 days of maternity leave.
I implore business owners to see the big picture. Do you want to support your staff and retain good, well-trained employees or are you willing to risk them resigning so that they can spend more time with their children?
For me, I would rather ask the team to band together to cover for their colleague than risk losing great staff just to save a few dirhams.
Adam McEwan, Dubai
Enforce laws to curb smoking
Smoking was in fashion a long time ago. These days, it's fashionable in many countries to be a non-smoker. But that may not be the case in the UAE (Either fewer are smoking or many will not admit it, January 25).
A visit to shisha cafes clearly proves that smoking is still popular here.
In order to curb this habit, the government will have to implement a string of anti-tobacco measures, as Dr Sajeev Nair has pointed out.
But it’s crucial to enforce the laws. Currently, teenagers can easily buy cigarettes from any grocery shop, even though it’s legally not permissible.
Also, there are many shisha cafes operating in residential areas in Musaffah, although by now, they should have been moved away from there.
However, the survey result is surprising, with most people denying that they use any form of tobacco even though experts say it is still common among Emiratis and expatriates.
What could be the reason for this? Perhaps some smokers realise that they are not doing the right thing?
Sahil Ahmed, Abu Dhabi
