The UAE Labour Law will be changed to live up to the ambitions of the leadership, citizens and private sector, and to fit the post-oil era, Nasser Bin Thani Al Hameli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, told the Federal National Council on Tuesday.
Al Hameli was speaking as the human resources policy was discussed, but he did not give a time frame as to when the new law would be issued.
The minister stressed that the goal is to achieve the national agenda indicators, especially to have citizens in five per cent of the private sector jobs. “The new law will address all basic requirements of the post-oil era,” Al Hameli said.
The UAE Emiratisation targets by 2021 are: 50 per cent of Emirati workforce to be employed in the private sector; and Emiratis must account for five per cent of the private sector workforce and six per cent of the total UAE workforce.
Al Hameli said 400 selected professions in 2,000 private companies will now have to give priority to Emiratis when recruiting.
Members of the House stressed the importance of developing legislation to implement Emiratisation policies, plans and programmes in the UAE labour market.
Hamad Al Rahoumi, a member from Dubai, the presence of Emiratis in the private sector does not live up to expectations, especially when the UAE boasts of a labour market that has four to five million jobs.
Mohammad Ahmad Al Yamahi, a member from Fujairah, questioned the measures taken by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation to create jobs in the private sector for citizens.
A report by the human resources committee demanded that the Labour Law be firmly enforced to ensure that eligible Emirati jobseekers are given top priority in employment, before a company pursues work permits for non-Emiratis.
Members of the House repeatedly demanded that Article 14 of the UAE Labour Law, which gives first priority to qualified citizens to fill vacant positions in the private sector, be firmly enforced.
The minister in charge of human resources development last month announced a slew of initiatives and policies aimed at accelerating Emiratisation, empowering citizens and raising their competitiveness until 2021.
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