Recommendations on Emiratization in the Government and Private Sectors
Honorable / Musabah Saeed Al Ketbi (Committee Chair)
Addressing the wage gap, which constitutes a major obstacle to employing citizens in the private sector.
Developing incentivizing initiatives, financial and service facilities to encourage citizens to invest in medium and small projects, with these projects prioritized strategically in government policies.
Directing federal ministries and entities to include financial allocations in their annual budgets for implementing Emiratization policies, plans, and programs in coordination with the Ministry of Finance.
Mandating all federal government entities to integrate with the “Bayanati” system of the Federal Authority for Human Resources.
Reviewing the pension law and amending provisions related to benefits granted to employees in the private sector compared to the federal and local government sectors, aiming to bridge the gap in pension benefits between the two sectors.
Providing material and moral incentives to private sector establishments committed to Emiratization decisions.
Honorable President:
Are there any comments on these six recommendations?
Honorable / Dr. Hisham Mohammed Fawzi (Legal Advisor to the Council):
There is no issue from the financial free zones as they are already subject to Emiratization and others. There are only two zones, one in Dubai (DIFC) and a new one in Abu Dhabi. The original problem is with the industrial free zones, so this matter needs a constitutional amendment to remove the word “financial” and subject all zones to federal jurisdiction.
Honorable President:
So, brothers, as the Honorable Advisor mentioned, instead of the word “amendment,” it should be “implementation” because this is subject to federal legislation, thus not accommodating citizens there. Does the council agree to replace “amendment” with “implementation”? Because the zones are already under federal authority…
Honorable / Dr. Hisham Mohammed Fawzi (Legal Advisor to the Council):
The issue, Your Excellency, is that we have two zones, one financial and this is a federal matter, and the other industrial or non-financial, which is a local matter. Therefore, to issue recommendations for non-financial zones requires a constitutional amendment. So, if your concern is only about financial zones, there is no issue originally. The committee’s intent is regarding non-financial zones, which are a local matter, but we can phrase it as “taking necessary actions to subject all free zones to Emiratization policies and plans,” leaving the necessary actions in a general format, including constitutional amendment and so forth.
Honorable President:
What wording do you suggest, Honorable Advisor?
Honorable / Dr. Hisham Mohammed Fawzi (Legal Advisor to the Council):
“Taking necessary actions to subject all free zones to Emiratization policies and plans.”
Honorable President:
What does the council think of this statement? This encompasses all, financial and non-financial zones, and you are interested in non-financial zones again, Honorable Advisor.
Honorable / Dr. Hisham Mohammed Fawzi (Legal Advisor to the Council):
“Taking necessary actions to subject all free zones to Emiratization policies and plans.”
Honorable President:
Does the council agree to this amendment?
(Agreed)
