Efforts to boost Emiratisation in the private sector have been hampered by a number of factors, including the often significant gap between the public and private sectors in terms of rates of pay, working hours and the expectations of UAE nationals.
The current policies are not as effective as they should be, as Emiratis continue to make up a small percentage of private sector employees. Recruitment of nationals even decreased between 2012 and 2013, as the number of Emiratis joining the private sector dropped from 1,700 to 1,000. There is also a challenge in retaining Emirati staff who often find better employment opportunities in the public sector. Meanwhile, unemployment among UAE nationals is edging up.
A 2013 report by the FNC predicted that by 2020, the number of jobless Emiratis will rise to 150,000 unless immediate action was taken to address the problem. They proposed several solutions, including requiring private companies to employ a certain number of Emiratis. As The National reported yesterday, Ali Al Nuaimi, an FNC member from Ajman, suggested rewarding private companies that retain a high percentage of Emirati staff by giving them preferential treatment in bidding for tenders, so as to encourage more companies to hire nationals.
The question of quotas has been under debate for the past few years. While some believe that it is the only solution to get Emiratis to work in the private sector, others see it as a cosmetic solution that does not address the root of the problem. The quota system does not necessarily mean that Emirati employees are being provided with proper professional training. This could create bogus Emiratisation – it has been suggested that some insurance companies are "recruiting" Emiratis to meet their quotas, but do not require these staff to go to work – because it focuses on superficial numbers rather than on real progress. It is about quantity not quality.
It is unrealistic to expect every private company to set high Emiratisation targets, especially when there are not enough Emiratis to fill these positions across the economy. What must be done instead is to work on encouraging Emiratis to consider non-traditional but nonetheless rewarding careers in industries beyond government and banking. This would benefit them, their employers and the UAE economy. It is time to look at the issue from a different perspective.