New rules soon to streamline labour market

The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs will issue new rules in January as part of a major policy shift to discourage a further influx of foreign unskilled manpower, stabilise the job market and absorb the present surplus of manual workers.

The new rules will also fine tune rules regulating the operation of manpower recruitment agencies.

"Despite all the ministry's efforts to monitor the recruitment of labourers from overseas, we still find violations of the Labour Law," said the official.

"But the ministry is addressing the situation. With the introduction of new high-tech labour cards, it will help the ministry update its files and obtain an accurate picture of the labour market."

Stricter guidelines will be issued to all visa committees for processing applications of foreign manpower.

"To obtain a job in the UAE, one of the main conditions for an expatriate applicant of any nationality is that that vacancy cannot be filled by a qualified and unemployed UAE or GCC national," explained the official.

The government is focusing on training young UAE nationals in order to reduce the country's dependence on expatriate labour.

"For more than half of the UAE nationals under 18 years of age, there is an urgent need to create new employment opportunities," he said.

A job placement agreement recently signed between the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and the ministry gives priority to graduates of the HCT in recruitment for jobs in both the public and private sectors.

However, most UAE nationals prefer to work in government departments. They cited high salaries, greater benefits, job security and shorter working hours.

However, the official pointed out that UAE nationals working for private companies are entitled to the same social security and pension benefits as UAE nationals working for the government.

Through the provision of benefits in the private sector, the government hopes to attract more UAE nationals to non-government jobs, thereby speeding up the emiratisation of the workforce.

"The ministry has its own website comprising data on job vacancies in the country's private and public establishments and on available job seekers. It also has the Labour Market Information System, which advises UAE nationals on emerging job opportunities and trends in the employment market. The site provides potential job applicants with a chance to file their application forms and CVs directly via the website," he said.

He stressed, however, that the ministry will not be actively seeking jobs for the unemployed registered in the system.

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