The Ministry of Labour's decision to exempt senior employees holding top posts from having to verify academic qualifications upon renewing their labour cards comes as a relief to those who worked their way up to a high position without having the required degrees. It is also an acknowledgement that experience gained from hard work is just as significant as holding educational qualifications. Certainly, experienced employees are an irreplaceable asset for any organisation.
Likewise, it must be noted that work experience and university degrees complement one another and in many cases, certain jobs must only be held by those with specific university degrees such as surgeons or academicians. In that sense it is important to also acknowledge the strength of education.
The ministry's initiative is a positive step that will prove beneficial to both companies and employees. It presents a very practical solution to the problem of employees in senior positions who may not meet the academic requirement set by the ministry.
This is a decision that will prove efficient and cost effective and stabilise the private sector. It also gives all employees a fair chance to co-exist in the UAE's professional environment.
