101% increase in Emiratis recruited in private sector this year

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There has been a whopping 101 per cent increase in the number of Emiratis recruited in the private sector this year, compared to the same period last year, revealed the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, revealed this during a debate at the Federal National Council on Tuesday.

However, members said that despite the fact that the UAE Vision 2021 has set a target for Emiratisation in the private sector to reach 5 per cent, the current percentage of employment has not shown a significant increase.

Members thus called for a push from the ministry to raise the level of employment among Emiratis in the private sector.

The minister revealed that in 2016, 20,662 Emiratis were employed in the private sector, and 23,930 Emiratis were employed in 2017, which is only a 3.38 per cent increase.

However, the minister said that the number saw a 101 per cent this year during the first four months.

He said that from January to April last year, 2,746 Emiratis were recruited, while 5,531 Emiratis were recruited in the same period this year.

Al Hamli also revealed that in the entire year of 2017, there were 6,862 Emiratis recruited, which is a 22 per cent increase from 2016.

The minister told the FNC that there are retirement benefits for Emiratis working in the private sector. "Those who work for the private sector and receive a salary below Dh50,000, will receive 100 per cent of their total salary after retirement (pension), which does not exist for those who work in the public sector.

"We need to educate Emiratis on the value of working in the private sector, regardless of the challenges," he stressed.