DUBIA: Based on its goal of enhancing the participation of Emirati women in the development of the Nation, yesterday Dubai Women Establishment organised their first ?Majlis? to address the topic of Emiratisation in 2013 in The Palace Downtown Dubai.
The ?Majlis? by Dubai Women Establishment is a new initiative that aims to provide an interactive space for speakers and participants to discuss important topics and issues related to working Emirati women and the social & economic roles they can play within their communities.The first session of the "Majlis" was moderated by Dr. Hessa Lootah, Associate Professor at the Department of Mass Communication - UAE University, who oversaw the participation of a group of female Emirati specialists in Human Resource Management from the public and private sector, as well as several leaders from national & federal institutions and local media. Moreover, members from the public were invited to send in their questions and suggestions via the Dubai Women Establishment Twitter account (@DubaiWomenEst).
During the session, the group covered various aspects of the Emiratisation process which included statistics and data that showed a higher number of Emirati women employees in the government sector in comparison to the private sector. The group agreed that the Human Resources Department of a corporation played a crucial role in the Emiratisation process, and a strong HR strategy can help drive the growth of an organisation. The gathering also touched upon the main challenges and recommendations to support Emiratisation and also raise the efficiency of human resources in the UAE. Commenting on the formation of the ?Majlis? and the decision to explore the subject of Emiratisation during the first ever session, Shamsa Saleh, Executive Director of Dubai Women Establishment said, "The launch of the ?Majlis? by Dubai Women Establishment, reflects the keenness of Her Highness Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of DWE, and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, UAE; to promote the status and capabilities of women, and provide them with the tools and opportunities to fulfil their potential as active members who are an asset to their communities and Nation."She added, "The ?Majlis? by Dubai Women Establishment was conceived as a platform for intimate round table discussions among important Emirati female leaders. By providing this opportunity for interaction and the exchange of ideas, what emerged is a set of proposals and recommendations to boost the potential of Emirati women. As we conclude the first session of the ?Majlis?, it worth mentioning that the topic of Emiratisation was inspired by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who recently called for further Emiratisation in the year 2013."For her part, Dr. Hessa Lootah, Associate Professor at the Department of Mass Communication - UAE University said, "Under the wise guidance of our leadership, to strengthen the Emiratisation process in 2013, the first ?Majlis? session has served as an advantageous meeting of minds and helped build a direction for the HR strategy of nation-wide corporations that aptly reflect the Emiratisation agenda. Furthermore, the discussions also identified the need for a plan to prepare citizens for a smooth transition into the new work requirements, and also pointed out that Emiratisation in the public and private sectors is also linked to social security."At the conclusion of the meeting were a number of proposals and recommendations to boost the Emiratisation strategy across all sectors of businesses. Suggestions included the monitoring of Human Resource Strategies in the private sector; specifying the minimum and maximum salary in the public and private sectors; the formation of a joint committee that brought together the Ministry of Labour and the Federal Human Resources Department to develop resolutions in support of Emiratisation in the public and private sectors; unifying laws for Human Resources in the public and private sectors; initiation of policies for Emirati working women to help them achieve work - life balance; and a suggestion to institutes of higher education to allocate credits to students for volunteer work.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2013.
