DUBAI - The number of UAE-nationals absorbed in the banking sector during the first half of 2004 has declined by 44 per cent compared with the same period last year, said a senior banking official yesterday.
Addressing a Press conference, yesterday, Humaid Al Qattami, Director-General, Emirates Institute For Banking and Financial Studies said," the decline in the number of nationals recruited in the system this year is expected to be much beyond our target, because 27 banks have not fulfilled their commitment of 4 per cent."
He said, "It was found that a number of national banks have established a subsidiary companies affiliated to the bank and recruit expatriates to evade recruiting locals by stating that the number of locals in the main-bank is line with the annual 4 per cent required."
He said, "The Chairman of the Human Resources Development Committee (HRDC), Ahmed Al Tayer, Minister of Communications, President of HRDC had made a lots of effort and time to convince the banks' management to absorb as many as they could in the system, in vain."
"In a survey conducted by the Institute's Research & Studies Department, it was found that the banks operating in the UAE have not fulfilled their commitments to recruit a 4 per cent of their total staff in the first six month of the 2004."
"The banks are far away beyond the targeted number with a decline of 44 per cent compared to last year same time, added Al Qattami. In fact about 27 banks have not achieved the targeted level, despite the fact that the number of banks staff increased to touch 17665 until June 2004. The number of employees working in the sector has increased by 605 out of which only 80 are UAE citizens, confirmed Al Qattami.BY SALAH ELDIN ELTAYEB
© Khaleej Times 2004
