UAE private firms urged to hit 2% Emiratisation target by end of year
UAE authorities have urged private sector firms to hit Emiratisation targets by the end of the year or face financial penalties.
Companies with more than 50 employees must ensure that 2 percent of their staff are Emirati before the start of 2023, a goal that is in line with the government’s Nafis initiative.
Any company that fails to reach the target must pay Dh6,000 a month for every Emirati it fails to hire.
The UAE wants 10 per cent of the private sector workforce to be made up of citizens by 2026.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said on Thursday that fines for non-compliance will be collected from January.
The ministry called on companies to support the country’s push to invest in local talent and benefit from incentives on offer.
Rewarding firms playing their part
In May, the UAE said it would cut some worker permit fees for private sector companies that voluntarily exceed Emiratisation targets.
This means that companies that go above and beyond what is legally required will pay only Dh250 for certain permits rather than Dh3,750.
The ministry offers private sector companies that reach the Emiratisation target a package of incentives, including the first category classification and membership in the Tawteen Partners Club within the establishments’ classification system, through which members receive discounts of up to 80 per cent on the ministry’s service fees.
