The "Emiratisation" of the Workforce

A big domestic issue within the UAE is the demographics within the workforce. The Emirates have long been an accessible place for foreign workers to find a job regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religion. The accessibility of work in the UAE is a key reason for the fact that only 20% of the people living in the Emirates are actually citizens. Due to this small percentage of native Emirati people that can be a part of the work force, the UAE government decided that something needed to be done to help the natives and citizens of the Emirates.

Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash, the Minister of Labour, outlined a new labor policy that focuses on workers' rights and the "Emiritisation" of the work force. Gobash explained that Emiratisation is the process in which the hiring of local workers becomes a priority, and as a result, more citizens get hired over foreign workers. Gobash stated that the way this process will be further implemented was to give incentives to companies that hire qualified local help instead of looking for foreigners who are qualified for the same job.

Another aspect of the policies was the protection of workers' rights. Minister Gobash ensured that the new policies were meant to protect ALL workers, regardless of nationality. The policies would, however, make switching jobs more flexible for locals, while foreign workers would have to commit to working for their "sponsor" employers for a set period of 2 years.

Gobash's main goal with these policies is to "create a safe, monitored, well organised labour market will help in boosting the country's economy and stability."