Discussion: Expats Could Only Get Work Permits If There Is No Emirati Available For The Job
Work permits may only be released to expats IF capable Emirati candidates are not available for the job.
A discussion was held on the topic at the Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday. The proposal suggested all entities adopt a system whereby ‘Emiratis will be prioritised for any new job openings’ according to a report in the Khaleej Times.
A speaker at the FNC argued the point
“We are a priority, we are locals and we are not finding jobs in our country – this is not normal” – FNC member His Excellency Hamad Al-Rahoumi.
The speaker referred to Article 14 from the Federal Law No. 8, a 1980 law where it states it’s not lawful to offer a job to an expat when an Emirati is qualified to perform the same work.
سعادة حمد الرحومي عضو المجلس #الوطني_الاتحادي: يجب الاهتمام بعملية التوطين في كافة القطاعات في الدولة سواء كانت حكومية أو خاصة، كما يجب على وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين أن تلعب دورا مؤثرا على جميع هذه القطاعات لاستقطاب المواطنين الباحثين عن عمل pic.twitter.com/qwtWJMCdjx
— الوطني الإتحادي (@fnc_uae) March 13, 2018
How would it work?
A database would be set up to ensure that, before a work permit is issued for an expat in government, semi-government and private entities, a jobless Emirati could not fill the position first.
The speaker suggested people would need to prove no eligible Emirati is looking for a job, before hiring an expat.
Nasser bin Thani Juma Al Hamli, the Minister of Human Resources responded to the suggestions with examples of the various national recruitment programmes set up in the last number of years to improve job prospects for Emiratis.
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