UAE’s MoHRE fines 441 private companies for false Emiratisation tactics

The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has fined 441 private establishments that violated Emiratisation targets from the second half of 2022 to date.

MoHRE, said in a statement, that 436 establishments were fined for false Emiratisation, while 5 establishments were found to have circumvented Emiratisation targets.

The ministry said penalties and administrative procedures were imposed on the companies. The financial benefits provided by the Nafis programme were also ceased for falsely appointed UAE nationals.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has taken action against 441 private establishments that violated Emiratisation decisions from the second half of 2022 to date.

436 establishments were fined for false Emiratisation, while 5 establishments were found to… pic.twitter.com/wyQyxkXHpe

— وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) July 19, 2023

“We urge UAE citizens and all community members to report any violations related to Emiratisation policies through our channels, such as the call centre at 600590000 or the Ministry’s smart app,” MoHRE said in a tweet.

Last month, MoHRE fined a private sector company Dhs100,000 for fraudulently evading Emiratisation targets. According to the Cabinet Resolution Regarding Penalties and Violations Relating to the Initiatives and Programmes of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis), there will be a fine of Dhs300,000 if a company commits a violation for the second time, and Dhs500,000 for the third violation, as well as for each time after the third time.

Major change in Emiratisation rules

Meanwhile, the UAE government announced a major change to the country’s Emiratisation programme earlier in July. The MoHRE said private companies with 20 to 49 employees are now included in the government’s Emiratisation drive.

The new measure will apply to private companies operating in 14 economic sectors including real estate, education, construction, and health care. They will be required to hire at least one UAE citizen in 2024 and another in 2025.

Previously, only companies with 50 or more employees needed to meet the target of hiring UAE citizens. Earlier this year, the government said companies must increase their proportion of Emirati workers by one per cent every six months.

Emiratisation drive

MoHRE said as many as 79,000 Emiratis are working in the private sector after the end of the semi-annual deadline for companies with 50 employees or more to achieve a one per cent Emiratisation in skilled jobs.

The ministry said the figures reflect the highest-ever rate of Emiratisation recorded in the UAE private sector, marking at the same time a 57 percent increase compared to the end of 2022 figures, where 50,228 Emiratis were employed in the private sector.

There are nearly 17,000 private sector companies that employ UAE citizens as of July 7 – the last day for companies to achieve their semi-annual Emiratisation targets.

“The notable growth in the number of Emirati citizens employed in the private sector reflects the effectiveness of the Emiratisation policies that have been implemented on a semi-annual basis starting this year,” said Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

“This growth demonstrates the private sector’s awareness and commitment to its responsibilities as a partner to the UAE Government in the Emiratisation process, guided by a vision to enhance the human development system in the UAE.”

Read: Major change in Emiratisation rules; covers smaller private companies