ABU DHABI // An international literary conference to be held in the capital next week will explore the relationship between writers and the cities that inspire their work. Twenty scholars and writers from around the world are expected to address the two-day event entitled City, Life, Vision at the General Women's Union under the patronage of its chairwoman, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. Each guest will give a lecture of 20 to 25 minutes on a text or piece of literature, and the audience will then be asked to join a discussion about how it portrays the city in question.
The conference is being organised by the Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. Anne Douaire-Banny, its head of French language studies, said: "It will be very interesting to build this bridge between writers from cities as big and as developed as Paris, Rome and Istanbul and writers and specialists here in the Gulf region, who have a different viewpoint of their cities. "We very much urge and hope that Emirati writers will attend and participate," Dr Douaire-Banny said. The lectures will be mainly in French, with simultaneous Arabic and English translations provided. However, one lecture will be presented in Arabic, by Professor Saif al Qaedi from the UAE University in Al Ain. A specialist in geography, Prof al Qaedi will present a lecture entitled Great cities attract great writers, but what about smaller cities?
Mohamed Maaitah, legal adviser at the General Women's Union, said: "Writers here in the UAE have not given the diverse, developing, modern cities of the country a big enough place in their writing. "It is a whole treasure trove that has not been tapped into, and we hope to change that by giving them the opportunity to learn from the experience of international writers." The conference will take place on March 10 and 11 from 9.30am to 5.30pm. It will be free and open to the public.
hkhalaf@thenational.ae
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Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
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Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
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Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
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