Your business will be required to pay up if you’re not complying with Emiratisation targets by next month: The Human Resources and Emiratisation Ministry (MoHRE) urged private sector companies with 50 or more employees to meet the 2% growth target in Emiratisation for skilled jobs by 31 December, according to a ministry statement. Companies that “fail to comply with annual Emiratisation targets will be required to pay financial contributions starting from January 2024,” the statement read. Companies falling short of the target are encouraged to use the Nafis platform to access a database of qualified UAE nationals to fill private sector positions.

It’s best not to try to side-step the regs or muddle your figures: The ministry cautioned against efforts to sidestep Emiratisation commitments and emphasized the effectiveness of its inspection system. Since mid-2022, the MoHRE’s inspection team has identified 916 companies violating Emiratisation regulations, attempting to bypass Emiratisation targets, or posting inaccurate Emiratisation information. Some 18k companies adhered to the regulations, bringing the number of Emiratis in the private sector up to 88k.

New benefits were introduced for private companies committed to Emiratisation: Companies that meet the target will be prioritized for government procurement contracts, the ministry said in a statement. They will also be enlisted in the Emiratisation Partners Club and given access to Nafis company and employee benefits such as financial support and the Nafis Pension Program.

Tags: