Dubai: More than 30,000 private sector jobs will be up for grabs for Emiratis in 2019, it was announced on Sunday by Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, according to a report in Gulf News.
Al Hamli stressed that Emiratisation represents a top national priority and, to that end, the government seeks to create an attractive work environment for national cadres in both the public and private sectors through a set of policies, initiatives and effective measures.
"The government is working with concerned authorities to help unleash Emiratis' potential in line with the requirements of the labour market," Al Hamli added.
The ministry's relentless efforts come in the wake of the directives of Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Dubai Ruler, to redouble Emiratisation, the minister reaffirmed.
Outlining the 2019 Emiratisation agenda, Al Hamli said, "During the current year, Emiratis will be empowered through four main tracks, the first of which is implementing the national employment policy, which aims to attract, train and empower Emirati cadres in the job market and build a highly productive, knowledge-based economy."
Al Hamli said that future changes to be witnessed by the UAE by 2031 will directly affect the job market, creating new and vital sectors and boosting some existing sectors. According to estimates, the total number of Emiratis working in the public and private sector is expected to reach 610,000.
The second track focuses on activating Article 14 of the law on the regulation of labour relations, which states that, "It is not permissible for a recruitment department to hire non-Emiratis before making sure that no Emirati registered in the employment section is unemployed and able to perform the work required."
A total of 316 professions have been identified by the ministry and will be held by Emiratis in accordance with criteria and professions that fall in the skill levels I, II and III and are suitable for Emiratis.
Under the third track, the ministry will speed up Qualitative Emiratisation in a new economic sector in parallel with the development of Qualitative Emiratisation in the economic sectors targeted to accelerate Emiratisation, such as civil aviation and real estate development and communications, the minister said.
The ministry is about to finalise a self-employment policy, which represents the fourth track of the 2019 Emiratisation Plan, the minister announced. The plan will enable Emiratis earn a monthly income by working independently, which will create employment opportunities for Emiratis, especially in remote areas and help hire Emirati women who do not want to adhere to official timings and workplace. The policy will instill a culture of self-employment among Emiratis and correct prevailing misconceptions. It will also promote co-operation and partnership between the public, private and civil sectors to provide self-employment opportunities.
"We are currently working on the development of an electronic platform linking Emiratis who are doing their own businesses to companies and various entities that have projects and need temporary support to perform some of their tasks," Al Hamli said.
The ministry’s efforts in 2018 have resulted in providing more than 20,000 job opportunities, up from 6,000 in 2017, the minister added.