How TASC Can Help You Achieve Emiratisation
At TASC, we are committed to finding the best talent for all your recruitment needs. As a leading UAE nationals recruitment agency, our team is super skilled and will deliver the right solutions for all your business needs.
No matter the size and scale of your business, we provide be spoke solutions that helps achieve goals quicker. As your UAE national recruitment agency, we’ll offer you a suite of services includes contract staffing, permanent recruitment, HR consultancy services, PRO services, payroll services and more.
What else can TASC help you with? Emiratisation is one of our newer capabilities. Let us delve into the concept of Emiratisation, its importance and how TASC can help with Emiratisation hiring. Our handy guide will cover it all.
Let's Talk
What is Emiratisation?
One of the most important initiatives undertaken by the UAE government, Emiratisation refers to the process of incorporating UAE nationals into the private sector by providing them with employment opportunities.
The new Emiratisation policies for UAE national hiring are in effect from 1st January, 2023. Those companies who fail to follow the Emiratisation requirements will be subject to penalties. The Emiratisation policy in the United Arab Emirates is comparable to the Saudisation policy in Saudi Arabia.
What were the old requirements?
Emiratisation has been in force in the UAE for a while now. In the banking and insurance sector, the Emiratisation quota was 4% and 5% respectively.
However, in 2017, a landmark judgement came into being. A form of labour market testing was introduced for employers having more than 50 employees. Under the new laws, organizations are required to have 2% Emirati representation if their workforce is above the 50 count. Essentially, there should be 1 Emirati for every 50 employees.
The Tawteen and NAFIS schemes were also introduced during this time to further the Emiratisation process. However, now Tawteen has been assimilated into NAFIS and no longer exists.
What are the new Emiratisation requirements?
The new Emiratisation requirements apply to all employers falling under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). MOHRE issued a new Ministerial Decision with regard to Emiratisation efforts in the United Arab Emirates.
Under this, all organizations in the private sector have to not only comply with the 2% Emirati quota but also have to increase this number year by year so as to reach the 10% mark by 2026. However, for the banking and insurance sectors, the quotas would remain at 4% and 5% respectively.
Read More
These requirements apply to all employers under MOHRE who are based onshore in mainland UAE. They do not apply to organizations in the free zones. These requirements would fully come into effect from 1st January 2023.
Another aspect of this is the number of skilled workers in the company. The actual Emiratisation numbers per company would be determined depending on the number of skilled workers in the company.
What constitutes a skilled worker?
When it comes to Emiratisation hiring, an employee is classified as a skilled worker if he/she meets the following pre-requisites:
- He/she must draw a monthly salary of a minimum of AED 4000
- He/she must have a high school certificate or its equivalent as a minimum educational requirement
- He/she must fall into one of the following 5 categories
Do note that as per new regulations, those who belong to level 4 are required to provide certification.
What does an employee
need to be counted in the quota
Firstly, employers need to ensure that they comply with all labour regulations.
Secondly, they need to provide each United Arab Emirates national with a work permit and employment contract.
Thirdly, they need to be registered with the applicable pension authority and lastly, they need to be paid through the Wage Protection System.
According to the new Emiratisation guidelines, there are also fines imposed for non-compliance of the quotas. For every employer who is not complying with the Emiratisation process, they will be fined AED 6000 per month per employee falling short of the quota. This amount will be increased by AED 1000 per month per year.
As has been discussed already, Emiratisation is a critical step towards development in the UAE. Every organization, no matter how big or small must take conscious steps to achieve Emiratisation depending on which requirements apply to them. TASC can help with UAE national hiring by providing the right support to your organization. Our highly-skilled team is trained to find the best Emirati talent for your business and help you scale new heights. You can be rest assured that we will make sure that you are compliant to all the laws and regulations.
The UAE government has been known to be very strict with those organizations who are non-complying with their Emiratisation requirements. Fines, penalties and overall damage to business and reputation are some of the consequences of non-compliance. These can be easily avoided by ensuring that Emiratisation happens on all levels of your organization by attracting and retaining the right Emirati talent. Another critical aspect is that Emiratisation may actually be economically beneficial to your organization by helping save on airline tickets, residency costs and health insurance as Emiratis would already be having these covered.
All about NAFIS;
The comprehensive Emiratisation program
Nafis is a federal program to increase the competitiveness of Emirati human resources and empower them to occupy jobs in the private sector. Part of 'Projects of the 50', the program aims to accelerate the UAE’s development journey and boost the economy.
The word ‘Nafis’ means to compete in Arabic. Launched on 13th September 2021, the program seeks to equip Emirati nationals with the knowledge and skills they need to secure employment in the private sector.
The NAFIS program aims to create 75,000 jobs in the private sector by 2025. Supporting Emiratis in different stages of their career, from a fresher to someone who has been in the workforce for a while and is looking for growth. All organizations now need to compulsorily register with NAFIS under the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. As your Emiratisation recruitment agency, we can guide you through the process to help you comply with it.
The key benefits of NAFIS
Reduced pension contributions for UAE nationals and salary contributions of up to AED 8000 per month for each UAE national hired under this scheme.
Exclusive recruitment portal which connects talented job applicants to their potential employers.
The Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council engages with various federal representatives and implements learnings from there. The council also helps move those working in the public sector to the private sector and to take early retirement from the public sector.
Read More
United Arab Emirates nationals employed in federal services get sabbaticals at 50% of their salary for a period ranging from six to twelve months. They can then use this time to start their own business in the private sector.
With a range of options available for employees and employers both, everyone can avail of the benefits of NAFIS. However, one must not forget that all these benefits are to be availed with the goal of achieving 10% Emiratisation in mind.
How does MOHRE categorize companies?
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has categorised organisations into 3 tiers for Emiratisation.
These categories are as follows:
Category 1:
Organizations need to achieve at least one of the following objectives
- They have to increase their annual Emiratisation quota by at least three times the target
- They have to be a small or medium sized organization owned by a young UAE national
- They need to hire or train at least 500 UAE nationals annually
- They need to be a qualifying training and employment centre
For category 1, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation will set work permit fees at a maximum of AED 250 for 2 years.
Category 2:
Those organizations which don’t fall into the Category 1 subdivision but nonetheless meet the Emiratisation quota of 2% per year
For category 2, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation will set work permit fees at a maximum of AED 1200 for 2 years.
Category 3:
Those organizations that do not meet the Emiratisation quota
For category 3, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation will set a fine of AED 6000 per month per UAE national not hired. This fee will be increased on an annual basis by AED 1000 per month.
Do note that for Categories 1 & 2, UAE and GCC nationals will be exempted from the fees.
The Emirati Salary Support Scheme
The Emirati Salary Support Scheme is ideal for those who want to train themselves to get a full-time job in the private sector.
They are paid a difference between their current and target salary under this scheme.
Pension Program
This is a five-year plan in which the government contributes to the pension of Emirati employees through a rebate, along with supporting the contribution of private sector employers.
Child Allowance Scheme
Under NAFIS, the children of those working in the private and financial sectors will receive up to AED 600 per month, for a maximum of 4 children.
Talent Program
This special initiative helps Emiratis through an educational grant program to obtain internationally recognized professional certificates for a variety of professions, helping them up-skill or re-skill.
Apprentice Program
The Apprentice Program is for the currently unemployed, holding at least a bachelor’s degree, and having graduated no more than 2 years prior to applying. It aims to give vocational training through apprenticeships in Private and Semi-Public companies to acquire professional experience.
Meet Recruitment Targets
Under Nafis, partner companies can benefit from a specially designed job posting platform that connects Emiratis with job opportunities in the private sector whilst giving employers preferential access to the right resumes.
National Healthcare Program
An educational grant program that helps Emiratis obtain the requisite qualifications that prime them for a career in healthcare, by providing easy access to high-quality healthcare degrees and diploma courses. Eligibility involves a minimum of a high school degree and the requirements of the selected program. Applicants should be currently unemployed.
Unemployment Benefit
If an Emirati has lost his or her job for reasons beyond their control, having been employed in the private sector or in one of the establishments licensed by the Central Bank, the person is eligible for temporary support as per guidelines laid down, for 12 months within 5 years.
Job Offers
Emiratis receive job offers through a unified job posting platform that hosts available opportunities in the private sector. It is an easy way for employers to find the right matches which helps them fulfill their Emiratisation targets. The platform aims to maximize the matching of eligible Emiratis with private-sector companies.
On-the-job training program
Emiratis receive job offers through a unified job posting platform that hosts available opportunities in the private sector. It is an easy way for employers to find the right matches which helps them fulfill their Emiratisation targets. The platform aims to maximize the matching of eligible Emiratis with private-sector companies.
TASC Overview
People are the backbone of any organization and finding the right talent can be a time-consuming and challenging process. This is where we at TASC come in. We are a leading Emiratisation recruitment agency in the United Arab Emirates. With over 16 years of experience, we are experts when it comes to talent in the UAE region. Having worked with organizations of different sizes from various verticals as well as the highest levels of the UAE government, we have the skill and expertise you require to achieve your Emiratisation targets.
We pride ourselves on a strong understanding of the local market and the various cultures present in the region. We apply this knowledge when it comes to scouting for the best talent for your organization.
Whether you’re a start-up looking to set your Emiratisation quota in motion or a large multinational corporation struggling with understanding the new legislature, allow TASC to take care of this for you.
You can reach out to our team, and we will get back to you with customized solutions to your needs and help you navigate the world of Emiratisation
Let's Talk
