Central database to boost Emiratisation
abu dhabi — A central database that makes sure Emiratis are considered first for every job opening in the country has been proposed at the Federal National Council (FNC). The proposed database would ensure an expat is given a job only if an Emirati is not looking to be hired for that position.
“Any firm (registered) under the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation needs to prove that there are no Emiratis ... registered in the database who can do the same job,” FNC member Hamad Al Rahoomi told Nasser bin Thani Juma Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
He said businesses have not implemented Article 14 of the Federal Law No. 8 for 1980, which says it is not permissible to issue a visa or a work permit for any job which an Emirati can occupy.
abu dhabi — All expats applying for work permits in private or public sectors, must now pass a database procedure that ensures Emiratis are not looking for the same job, heard the Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday.
FNC members raised their concern to Nasser bin Thani Juma Al Hamli, the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, over job opportunities for Emiratis and argued that all entities must go through a system that ensures Emiratis are prioritised for any new job openings.
“If I have an Emirati who is jobless, I have to do something about it,” said FNC member Hamad Al Rahoomi.
“We are a priority, we are locals and we are not finding jobs in our country, this is not normal,” he told the minister.
“The government is very concerned about Emiratisation in the private sector, and everyone should contribute towards that,” replied the minister.
However, Al Rahoomi pointed out that businesses across the country have not implemented Article 14 of the Federal Law No. 8 for 1980, regarding work regulations.
“The article says it is not permissible to issue a visa or a work permit for any job, which an Emirati can occupy. However, since 1980, the firms are not following the law,” Al Rahoomi said, stressing that all sectors should be closely monitored by the ministry.
The member gave a presentation of one sample institution in the UAE, indicating that the number of expat employees reached 55 per cent in that institution.
“We are talking about firms that are not abiding by this article.”
The council thus argued that a database must be created for all entities, which ensures that prior to the issuing of work permits for expats, government, semi-government and private entities have to make sure that no Emirati is looking to be hired for the same job position.
The government is very concerned about Emiratisation in the private sector, and everyone should contribute towards that.”
Nasser bin Thani Juma Al Hamli, the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation
“These organisations do not have databases of the Emiratis looking for jobs,” said Al Rahoomi.
“You are the only one who knows, so you should link Emiratis looking for jobs to the availability of jobs,” he told the minister.
“Anyone who is under the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation need to prove that there are no Emiratis out there looking for a job, registered in the database and can do the same job.”
The minister said that the authority has set up various initiatives to increase the employment among Emiratis, including the National Recruiting Programme. He pointed out that in 2016, there was a tie-up between the National Recruiting Programme and the private sector institutions, and more than 70 organisations trained Emiratis.
The minister added that there were 5,608 Emiratis recruited through the programme in 2016, and around 6,800 in 2017, which saw a 22 per cent increase.
However, he stressed the importance of developing stronger partnerships with the private sector, in order to contribute to Emiratisation. “The ministry’s efforts on this issue are concrete and we support these efforts.”
The council thus called for setting up special programmes for graduate students and specialised programmes for Emiratis to fill positions held by expats and recommended that all work permits only be issued if job openings cannot be filled by Emiratis, which the minister agreed on.