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Discuss this article (52 Comments)Private sector must hire more UAE nationals - minister
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 27 April 2009
HIRE UP: Emiratis make up less than 20 percent of the UAE's population of over four million people. (Getty Images)
The UAE needs to intervene further in the labour market to ensure that minority UAE nationals find work in a competitive environment, a minister said on Monday.
The state needs to focus on placing nationals in the private sector, said Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister for Higher Education & Scientific Research.
"Without intervention, nationals face the risk of being squeezed out of the labour market in their own country. This result is obviously unacceptable," he told a forum.
"The population of nationals of employment age is growing briskly, especially women. Nationals face intense competition due to the UAE's open labour market."
Emiratis make up less than 20 percent of the UAE's population of over four million people, which includes a broad mix of white and blue collar labour from Asia and Europe.
Emiratis traditionally look for jobs in the government sector, which are seen as secure and offering many perks.
The minister said he had no figures for nationals working in the private sector but said the numbers were low.
"We seek a situation where every private sector employer develops and implements a plan to aggressively recruit and employ nationals," he said. "We need a proactive role from all corners of the private economy." (Reuters)
READERS' COMMENTS
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If they are in demand, why the law enforcement
Posted by K S Kumar, kent.entertainment@yahoo.com on Monday 4 May 2009 at 16:53 UAE time
TO James - , it is very logical when something is in demand, you dont need to force people to buy it. when we said about locals not being efficient, that did not mean that the entire citizens, of course there are people who like to work and know the value of being in a job. but majority is not like that. I dont know why you have to be so aggressive and personal calling everybody's comments as Rubbish, if you h ave met a few in your company staying till 6 pm that does not imply efficiency or deserving. In response to that I can tell you so many incidences with opposite results. May be for you, your comment is sensible and others comments are rubbish, sameway it is the otherway round for us. So you also grow up.
Posted by K S Kumar, kent.entertainment@yahoo.com on Monday 4 May 2009 at 16:53 UAE time
TO James - , it is very logical when something is in demand, you dont need to force people to buy it. when we said about locals not being efficient, that did not mean that the entire citizens, of course there are people who like to work and know the value of being in a job. but majority is not like that. I dont know why you have to be so aggressive and personal calling everybody's comments as Rubbish, if you h ave met a few in your company staying till 6 pm that does not imply efficiency or deserving. In response to that I can tell you so many incidences with opposite results. May be for you, your comment is sensible and others comments are rubbish, sameway it is the otherway round for us. So you also grow up.
Rubbish! - All of you!
Posted by James, Dubai on Monday 4 May 2009 at 08:30 UAE time
OK. You are all, almost without exception, talking absolute rubbish. From 1st hand personal knowledge in Abu Dhabi/Dubai across all business sectors I can tell you that UAE nationals are extremely sought after n the work place by both local and expat managers. These locals do work hard as a rule, most I deal with are in the office until 6pm or thereabouts - yes even in gov't. as yes, sorry people, they are worth more in the market place because they are in demand. basic business principles apply here, no one actually thinks UAE, or any GCC country for that matter, is built on equality do you? So given that we accept that premise then what right does any expat (10 a penny for pretty much any role these days) have to demand equality of pay and conditions as a local (rare commodity)? Please everyone, stop being so naive. To twist these pretty basic facts into some kind of racial slurs (I am looking at both locals and expats posting here) is helping no one. All of you, just grow up.
Posted by James, Dubai on Monday 4 May 2009 at 08:30 UAE time
OK. You are all, almost without exception, talking absolute rubbish. From 1st hand personal knowledge in Abu Dhabi/Dubai across all business sectors I can tell you that UAE nationals are extremely sought after n the work place by both local and expat managers. These locals do work hard as a rule, most I deal with are in the office until 6pm or thereabouts - yes even in gov't. as yes, sorry people, they are worth more in the market place because they are in demand. basic business principles apply here, no one actually thinks UAE, or any GCC country for that matter, is built on equality do you? So given that we accept that premise then what right does any expat (10 a penny for pretty much any role these days) have to demand equality of pay and conditions as a local (rare commodity)? Please everyone, stop being so naive. To twist these pretty basic facts into some kind of racial slurs (I am looking at both locals and expats posting here) is helping no one. All of you, just grow up.
THE MAIN HURDLE THE EXPATS
Posted by muslim, dubai, U.A.E. on Sunday 3 May 2009 at 23:12 UAE time
If the same item/person, is available, but with a better quality and economical then the expat company has to be deranged not to appoint the national. Believe me, if you are better and want to work, other than giving priority to personal phone calls and taking a break after attending to one customer, then no one in this world can push back your development. No rules need be made to safeguard jobs etc.
Posted by muslim, dubai, U.A.E. on Sunday 3 May 2009 at 23:12 UAE time
If the same item/person, is available, but with a better quality and economical then the expat company has to be deranged not to appoint the national. Believe me, if you are better and want to work, other than giving priority to personal phone calls and taking a break after attending to one customer, then no one in this world can push back your development. No rules need be made to safeguard jobs etc.
THE MAIN HURDLE THE EXPATS
Posted by Ali Abdallah Al Mehairbi, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 3 May 2009 at 20:05 UAE time
The UAE nationals are as competent if not more than expats but most expat managers will attempt every unethical and reprehensible trick in the book to suppress our career growth and development, we are always relegated to the periphery, we are considered the outsiders, promotions and grades are doled out based on nationality rather than competency, if we speak our language at work we receive a barrage of expletives while you not only converse but you also train in your respective languages, and expats still dare to claim that we are lazy, incompetent and inefficient. Make no mistake that this is our land and we are entitled to its jobs and we will fight you tooth and nail because expats are the main and sole hurdle to our growth and development. Let the show begin........it already begun....
Posted by Ali Abdallah Al Mehairbi, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 3 May 2009 at 20:05 UAE time
The UAE nationals are as competent if not more than expats but most expat managers will attempt every unethical and reprehensible trick in the book to suppress our career growth and development, we are always relegated to the periphery, we are considered the outsiders, promotions and grades are doled out based on nationality rather than competency, if we speak our language at work we receive a barrage of expletives while you not only converse but you also train in your respective languages, and expats still dare to claim that we are lazy, incompetent and inefficient. Make no mistake that this is our land and we are entitled to its jobs and we will fight you tooth and nail because expats are the main and sole hurdle to our growth and development. Let the show begin........it already begun....
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