Welcome return for work permits for new UAE hires

▶ More medical and management professionals could move to the UAE

The government’s decision to again issue work permits for some overseas workers has been hailed as a welcome step by companies looking to hire senior and technical talent.

Recruiters said jobseekers with management experience or hard skills were likely to benefit from the move.

Doctors, nurses and those in middle to senior management roles were expected to be the focus of international recruitment drives.

But demand for domestic workers from outside the country was expected to remain low until the end of the year.

“What this is signalling is a positive shift for the recruitment sector in the UAE,” said David Mackenzie, managing director of recruitment firm Mackenzie Jones.

“Reintroducing work permits for new arrivals to the country is the UAE telling the world that it is back open for business.

“The parameters surrounding the decision means it will only impact certain sectors initially, such as health care and government departments, but it is a positive move.”

For the first time since March, government departments and public-private-sector partnerships have the green light to advertise vacancies to external candidates in some understaffed sectors, such as health care and transport.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation suspended the issuance of all types of labour permits, including those for drivers and domestic workers, to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Mr Mackenzie said that because the UAE is a very cyclical market, people leave during times of economic turmoil, but quickly look to return when things pick up again.

The pandemic and political factors such as the US elections and Brexit have made some countries less attractive to jobseekers than in the past.

In turn, more people were open to jobs overseas, he said.

“We are a UAE company so we always look to recruit locally first, as the turnaround time to hire is quicker and candidates are more accustomed to local practices,” Mr Mackenzie said.

“But what we are seeing more and more from clients is a need for very senior roles ... for that, we need to look externally.”

Those expected to be recruited from abroad were predominantly people without families, due to cost factors, he said.

Packages would tend to be combined into a single monthly salary, rather than separate payments to cover benefits such as housing and travel.

The decision, announced by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship on Monday, means domestic workers and drivers can also secure permits from abroad.

Neeraj Agrawal, a press official at the Indian consulate in Dubai, said it could attract more Indians back to the country after many were made redundant and went home within the past few months.

“It’s a welcome step. We see ease of movement going forward for people offered jobs in all categories,” he said.

But Rohini Bhalla, a senior consultant at GGC HR consultancy in Dubai, said uptake for domestic roles would be slow.

“Hiring someone from abroad brings with it a lot of added expense – a flight ticket over as well as accommodation costs for 14 days as per the quarantine rules,” she said.

“Companies will only absorb that cost if they can’t find the talent locally.

“Because of the job losses and redundancies caused by Covid-19 there are many domestic workers in the country searching for work, so the talent is already there.

“I think this decision will mainly impact front-line workers, nurses and doctors, people with technical skill sets that aren’t readily available here.”

Since the outbreak, employers have been able to hire some staff from abroad, depending on the role and circumstances.

But until this latest announcement, foreign workers were difficult to bring into the country.

Permits enabling hiring from abroad are obtained from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

The hiring organisation must send an offer letter outlining the terms of contract, including its salary and duration.

Once signed by the candidate, the company must apply for pre-approval through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

The entry permit is usually valid for two months from the date of issue, not arrival.

When the employee is in the country, the employer must apply for a residency visa.

The sponsor will liaise with the authorities to arrange medical testing, an Emirates ID and the residency visa.

All costs relating to the work permit, medical tests, Emirates ID and residency visa should be borne by the employer.