Private Firms Urged To Place Emiratis In Skilled Positions To Hit Emiratization Targets

Recruitment agencies have warned private companies against hiring UAE citizens for the sake of hitting Emiratization targets, saying the program will only work if there is a remarkable change in the compensation packages for them.

The program, which is in line with the government's Nafis initiative, requires companies with more than 50 employees to make at least two percent of their workforce Emiratis before the start of 2023. Any company that fails to hit this target must pay Dh 6,000 a month for every local it fails to hire.

With just a few weeks before the deadline, authorities have warned companies against employing UAE citizens with a focus on "filling quotas," as hiring an Emirati for quota reasons will only lead to them searching for greener pastures somewhere else, defeating the very purpose of Emiratization.

"We've received more inquiries for Emirati profiles, usually in sectors such as hospitality and retail," Iris Executives founder Hamza Zaouali told The National. "In the last month, companies have approached us for dozens of roles to be filled urgently."

"My number one advice to HR managers to hire and retain top Emirati talent would be to be crystal clear on the role and the career progression. If you just hire an Emirati for quota reasons, they will find somewhere where there is actually a clearer and more enticing future for them," he added, saying private sector companies should focus on placing UAE citizens in more skilled positions that offer higher compensation benefits.

"When companies try to hire UAE nationals at existing salary scales, that can't work. The UAE market has a very wide range of salaries for the same role so it is very easy for a company to be on the very low side of the spectrum. Hiring Emiratis means that you should accept to pay a more premium salary if you are to be in line with other firms that have also hired Emiratis," he explained.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization said in a tweet last week that it had been monitoring the types of jobs offered to UAE nationals in line with the country's Emiratization targets. "The ministry is closely monitoring the Emiratization-related procedures which companies are following, as well as the types of jobs they are offering to UAE nationals," the ministry tweeted.