Hiring Emirati safety officers must by 2017

Abu Dhabi - The decision came following a strategic plan to promote employment opportunities for Emiratis in the private sector.

From next year, construction companies with 500 or more employees will have to hire an Emirati as occupational health and safety officer, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, said that the ministry will not grant work permits to facilities employing more than 500 workers if they don't hire at least one Emirati occupational health and safety officer.
"The decision came following a strategic plan to promote employment opportunities for Emiratis in the private sector, to implement the Emiratisation," he said. The new rule will create job opportunities for Emiratis in more than 400 construction companies.
The ministry took the decision on Emiratisation of occupational health and safety officer after careful consideration of the various sectors of construction, industry and major industrial enterprises operating in these sectors.
Ghobash referred to the ministry's close follow-up mechanisms that shall be implemented to note down compliance levels across targeted facilities.
"I personally believe in the adherence and commitment adapted by the employers towards our decisions, especially since regulations that emphasise on employing qualified citizens, is a national responsibility shared between the government and the private sector," Ghobash said.
He called upon UAE nationals to prove their abilities by performing the required tasks efficiently.
haseeb@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Abu Dhabi