Around a month ago, one of my former students from India — after having completed an MBA in media management — shifted to Dubai with a media marketing profile. He took up the Dubai assignment at the expense of his marketing communication profile with a well-known media organization in Mumbai.
Let us first note what are the usual inferences attached to such a movement of a skilled Indian in various associated circles!
The person in question might feel elated, thinking that the market in Dubai must be easier to manage than Mumbai, along with the quality of life and remuneration much higher. The employer in Dubai might not get the right talent required at the desired wage locally, and hence wants to get him from India, though unsure of the return on investment as the talent is raw in the Middle East market. The colleagues in Dubai may look at him with apprehension: not sure as to how he will add value since he is unaware of the difference between Deira and Satwa, or Knowledge City and Academic City!
The parents are happy because their son’s income has gone up exponentially, and yet are unhappy that he is far away. The friends back home are jealous and analysing how and why he could manage the relocation. Ideologues back in India would consider it a brain drain. Ideologues or conservatives in the Middle East might consider him just another expat coming to make a quick buck in Dubai sans any commitment to the society and economy here!
There is an error of judgement perhaps in all of these stereotypical views. Let me take them up one by one.
There is an error of judgement perhaps in all of these stereotypical views. Let me take them up one by one.
Let’s begin with the talent in question. He has been brought in with some expectations and planned return on investments. While the comforts and the local wages are fine, if the quantified and qualified goals are not being fulfilled, it will spell doom for his career. Job-switch or moonlighting in the local market is next to impossible. Hence, the challenge is bigger than Mumbai.
Obviously, the employers have brought the talent since it is not possible to get the same at the price being acquired. And, if available, the productivity may be more uncertain than someone brought in with zeal and determination to succeed come what may. It is this opportunity cost, perceived favourably by the employers, which triggered the relocation.
Every expat had that Day One, when the world seemed all confusing as s/he landed in the adopted land. And, in a down market, the incoming talent has to work all the more harder to succeed, and that is at the back of unclear response of old to the new.
Well, when you have educated your son to be a global resource, with the option to shift to the best available market, there is no difference between Kolkata, Mumbai or Dubai. You have to accept the new reality of job-market and nuclear families.
Fortune favours the brave, the risk-taker, the networker, the fast mover, and the self-challenger. You are one, and you get many. Only those who are either unclear about their aspirations or are too lazy to work towards them, sit back and suffer, and be critical to one and all around.
What is brain-drain today? The 30 million NRIs are the ambassadors of India worldwide, the New Global Indians, and they earn more than 10% of the total GDP of India. A good number of them believe in remittance economy.
The conservatives’ apprehensions also hold no ground since the incoming talent, through much harder labour than what a more comfortably placed local talent would do, shall create value for his company, and the local economy. The least you can do is to welcome a good talent.
So, welcome to the shrunken globalised workforce market where the best will move anywhere and grow, and the bad will have to shape up or ship out. Today, it is the Indian talent coming to the Middle East, but tomorrow it can be the reverse.
