When I looked up ‘Human Resource in Dubai’ on Google, all I got was HR jobs and a few Performance Appraisal softwares. Is human resource function only limited to jobs? And when we talk about its role, does it stops at recruitment and talent acquisition only? What goes beyond that is the question.

Eighty per cent of the UAE population are still expatriates and will remain so in the near future. Gone are the days when lucrative offers including accommodation, schooling, vehicles and shipping cost were given to expatriates to relocate comfortably.

Now, companies prefer recruiting candidates that are already based in the country so that it’s easy to join. But have companies ever thought of nurturing the existing talents or are they still only a means for so many to earn, save and return to their own country after a few years?

A typical day in the life of a human resource executive is to recruit new staff, induct them and hand over their documents to the visa department for further paper work. He or she works her way through website advertisements, newspapers and sometimes through job portals. Once an opening is closed, he or she moves on to another request. But what about the employee assessment, stress free work culture, recreational activities, training and following the development of the employee so that they are engaged constructively with the organisation rather than being just a robot?

A lot of people work only under the fear of losing their job, as it means cancellation of their visa, no medical facilities and returning to their home country.

Since residence depends upon sponsorship, which is tied to an employment contract, workers practically sell their lives to their employers when they sign on the dotted line, but for how long? The need of the hour is to motivate the employees and enhance their knowledge through training and development. And this is possible by widening the scope of human resource function and hiring experienced managers who can strengthen the bond between employee and employer. This is done by mutual trust, motivation, recreational activities, work life balance and understanding of each other’s needs rather than just a contract.

- Mansi Kumar is an Indian human resource specialist based in Dubai