Tanmia

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Private Sector asked to create 20,000 jobs for the Emiratis

jobless in dubaiPrivate sector of UAE, already struggling with global recession and downturn, has been asked to create at least 20,000 jobs a year to cater for the jobless Emiratis.

According to Saqr Gobash, Minister of Labour, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Development and Employment Authority of National Human Resources (Tanmia), there are at least 35,000 unemployed Emiratis in the UAE. Out of which only 8,000 Emiratis are currently enrolled with Tanmia.

There is already a law in place that makes it virtually impossible for employers to fire Emirati employees.

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Law to ban private sector companies from sacking Emiratis

It has now been confirmed that what was quoted by Dubai Police Chief was not a mis-interpretation, as suggested by some media articles, but something that has been considered to be implemented as a Law in Dubai.

National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) has submitted a draft proposal to the Ministry of Labour under which cases pertaining to the termination of Emiratis working in the private sector are to be evaluated.

The proposal suggests that the termination of Emiratis in private sector companies is to be considered arbitrary unless the employee has violated the labour law.

The Tanmia proposal also stipulates that any company in the private sector forced to terminate Emiratis as part of restructuring policies aimed at increasing competitiveness, review of production costs in tough times, or in cases involving mergers between companies should duly inform the ministry of labour about such a move before any decision.

Also, as per the proposal, no company will be allowed to sack an Emirati before it has exhausted all avenues to find a suitable solution.

The proposal outlines a number of steps that a company should mandatorily satisfy before terminating Emiratis such as implementing a part-time system, repackaging salaries on the condition that they don’t go below the minimum wage for Emiratis (which is between Dh3,000-Dh5,000 – depending on the qualifications), relocating them within the company or training them to handle other positions in the company.

Additionally, an employer in the private sector will also not be allowed to terminate an Emirati on the pretext that he/she does not have the required qualifications and skills, if the employee has completed her/his probation period.