Abu Dhabi: A member of the Federal National Council said he was annoyed by an article of the Federal Human Resources Law concerning three-year job contracts for Emiratis employed in the government.

Hamad Al Rahoumi, a member from Dubai, said while job security has become the most determining and key element influencing an employee’s decision on whether to join an organisation or not, the government comes up with an article in the Human Resources Law that gives certain officials rights to fire citizens.

“The changes to the Human Resources Law that limit the term of job contracts to three years sends a negative message and undermine job security of Emiratis,” Al Rahoumi said.

Al Rahoumi told the House that the crucial challenge facing any governmental organisation is not just to employ and retain workers but to ensure that employees are assured of their jobs for as long as they wish. “How would a young citizen, burdened by long-term housing or marriage loans, feel when he has no job security?” Al Rahoumi asked.

Al Rahoumi argued that the big picture of job security is grim and doubtful due to the wrong message given to citizens by the new changes to the Human Resources Law, making job contract last for just three years, that may be extended based on performance of the employee.

The importance of job security to Emirati employees cannot be underestimated, and performance can be improved by other measures,” Al Rahoumi said.

Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Chairman of the Human Resources Authority, said the government can never undermine job security of citizens. “Three-year job contracts are meant to increase productivity and creativity of workers,” Al Owais said.

Al Rahoumi put another question to Noora Mohammad Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, concerning annoying spam phone calls made by the providers of telecom services in the country to promote their services.

The member demanded that representatives from the telecom regulator attend the next session of the House.

The UAE telecom regulator had in 2009 introduced a policy against mobile spam, mandating UAE telecom companies to provide a way for customers to request blocking of spam calls.