UAE jobs initiative spreads message

A pledge to provide 20,000 jobs in the next five years a major push towards the goal of having more Emiratis in the private sector.

ABU DHABI // More companies have learnt about the benefits of an initiative that aims to create thousands of new jobs for Emiratis over the next five years.

The Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) organised an introductory meeting for its consultants, contractors and vendors yesterday to introduce them to the Absher initiative.

"National jobseekers can take advantage of training and development programmes and secure quality roles and appointments in major companies," said Mohammed Khalifa Al Fahed Al Mehairi, the chief executive of Musanada, who used the meeting to express the company's keenness to provide the necessary support for the initiative.

"They can also get training opportunities and acquire skills that are sought after by the business community."

Nasser Al Hamli, the director of the Technical Office at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, gave a presentation at the event at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

"Under the guidance of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the initiative intends to boost the presence of Emiratis in the private sector and also aims to provide sustainable and growing jobs to be occupied by Emiratis," he said.

In its first phase the initiative has received a quick response from targeted organisations, with 25 agreements having been signed with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Mr Al Hamli said.

The organisations have pledged to provide 20,000 jobs for Emiratis in the next five years.

Mr Al Hamli said that the number of Emirati jobseekers, who had registered with a development authority - he stressed the figures were an indication rather than fact - was an estimated 28,000 nationals as of May 2012. The rate of jobseekers in Abu Dhabi was about 50 per cent of that, Sharjah had about 17 per cent and Dubai 10 per cent. The number of jobseekers with secondary education topped the list with approximately 41 per cent, while females about 74 per cent.

Some of the studies conducted in conjunction with the initiative indicate that a minimum of 10,000 Emiratis will enter the marketplace every year.

Various programmes will be provided for participants taking part in the Absher initiative. The English programme will help Emiratis to develop their English language skills with aviation and fire-fighting terminologies, while the Tas'heel programme for service centres is to develop customer service skills, training on printing skills and use of computers.

The sales and English language programme will be focused on the development of conversational skills related to sales.

The Ibda'a programme aims to familiarise trainees with the basic skills and knowledge required to work in hotels. Another English language programme aims to develop language skills related to hospitality.

Musanada, along with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, has continued its intention of employing 500 Emiratis between 2012 and 2016 at Musanada and its vendors, said Hesham Al Hamadi, the company's director of HR and Administrative Affairs.

Mr Al Hamadi said the ministry would support the Absher initiative by covering 30 per cent of the cost of the gross monthly income of the trainee employees.

Emiratis will be trained by the National Human Resources Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) for eight months, in accordance with the employee's needs for training.

"The vision of the Absher initiative, in collaboration with Tanmia, is to provide training services vis-à-vis hiring within the bodies collaborating within the initiative itself," said Nora Al Bdour, director of Tanmia.