REFORM TO BENEFITS FOR EMIRATIS ABLE TO WORK

Abu Dhabi government official says aim is to avoid people being dependent on social welfare

Financial support for unemployed Emiratis could be cut unless they can prove they are not fit to work, a top Abu Dhabi government official said.

Citizens will have to accept one of three offers of employment or lose their benefits under new plans to ensure everyone is contributing to society.

“We don’t want a society that is dependent on social welfare,” said Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, chairman of Abu Dhabi’s new Department of Community Development.

Home makers and people out of work for health reasons will be exempt.

Financial support for jobless Emiratis varies but Dr Al Khaili gave one example.

“You will find an Emirati on welfare receiving Dh8,000 a month,” he said.

“So we don’t want the attitude of, ‘Why should I work since the salary I receive is only a few thousand more?’”

Dr Al Khaili said there was a concern that some people take advantage of the benefits, which for UAE nationals is on par with wealthy European nations’ social security net.

“In some countries you have parents that are dependent on social welfare, and then their children and then their children’s children – entire generations of families on welfare,” he said.

“That is not what we want for the UAE.”

Dr Al Khaili, who was speaking after a forum that discussed how to provide a dignified life for all members of society, said there was a genuine drive in government to ensure all Emiratis had job opportunities and that officials would find vacancies for those with work.

“Those able to work will be given a first and second chance and by the third we will stop the aid,” he said.

“What we are trying to do through social benefits is to support the people who are in need so that they have a safety net.

“We will make sure nobody goes under the line that will be drawn by our department.”

But Dr Al Khaili said that it was important to “bring people back”, and for UAE nationals to be active.

“We need to prepare our society for the post-oil era and give incentives to people to work hard,” he said.

In April, the Cabinet approved Dh11 billion in social assistance for low-income groups over the next three years.

Dr Al Khaili said a report that would be released soon would detail how many families received government aid.

The most recent figures available are from 2013 and show almost 39,000 people in Abu Dhabi received welfare payments, up from about 25,300 in 2011. At that time, the value of aid grew from Dh665 million to Dh806m.

“We have a new approach where will look at families who depend on social welfare and not just the number of people receiving aid,” Dr Al Khaili said. “We will start collecting data at the end of March next year. Today, we have rough numbers but it isn’t accurate.”

“Our main aim is to meet the needs of all segments of society,” he said. “When we give a service it is for a better life for everyone regardless of nationality.”

He said it was widely recognised that “expats here today support the economy and the UAE’s development” and that it was “our duty to give them a comfortable life”.

The department announced 85 initiatives that cover a range of areas in society.

Members of the country’s FNC have clashed over the level of welfare support that should be afforded to those out of work or in retirement.

In 2012, then minister of social affairs Mariam Al Roumi told members the government could not allow citizens to fall into dependency, and rejected calls to extend unemployment benefits.

Yesterday, FNC member Hamad Al Rahoomi, who represents Dubai and has pushed for Emiratis to be offered jobs over expats, told The National he backed the move as long as it helped jobseekers.

“We don’t want a society that is dependent on welfare so it is only logical to discontinue welfare once they find a job,” Mr Al Rahoomi said. “But you can’t expect them to work and support a family with a monthly income of Dh5,000 or Dh6,000.”

The Abu Dhabi government has set a minimum wage of Dh10,000 for Emiratis. Social welfare starts from about Dh6,000 for unmarried Emiratis but is higher for married couples with dependants.

Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, supported the ethos that everyone in society must contribute.

“The individual who is healthy and of a sound mind and body who does not work commits a crime against himself and society,” Sheikh Zayed told a gathering of students and citizens in 2003.