Tanmia calls private sector to set up action plan for nationalization initiatives at 3rd Annual Human Assets Expansion Congress

The congress gathered 150 high profile HR specialists from government as well as private sector and solution providers from the Middle East region to discuss the current issues including empowerment of national workforce, HR Management within a multinational environment, cultural sensitivity, employee benefits and Middle East Appeal to International Manpower.

During her keynote address, Noora Al Bedur, the Director of Employment & Skills Development Center from Tanmia, explained the internal and external challenges faced by Tanmia on its way to empowerment of nationalism.

Noora Al Bedur noted:

"The attempt of Tanmia won't be sufficient in nationalization efforts; there are many private sector employers who are eager to work in corporations with Tanmia to raise the amount of nationals with in private organizations. However more initiatives have to be taken to have mutual understanding and meet the expectations of both sides."

"If we are informed by the private sector of their actual needs and what type of candidates they are seeking we will be able to shape our training systems as well as our candidates to meet their requirements. So they will have the perfect candidates and it will enable us to build the most effective action plan," she added.

Tanmia is currently working more intensively with the private sector in order to leverage that action plan. Microsoft is one of the great examples of this new cooperation. Tanmia and Microsoft collaborate in different initiatives to contribute to the workforce development by leveraging the e-skills of UAE nationals. With its Unlimited Potential Program, Microsoft provides basic and advanced IT skills to empower citizens through technology, increasing their employment prospects and enabling them to access the information they will need to succeed. So far 400 people have been trained and almost all of them participated to the workforce after the Community Technology skills program. Following that first initiative, Microsoft launched the "Intaleq" project, an internship program, in the UAE to empower young, talented UAE nationals with real work experience and to offer them more chances to realize and show their full potential.

Another example is the Emirates Airline & Group, which has created a dedicated UAE National Recruitment and Development team to hire as many nationals as possible into the Group each year, at entry level and those with some experience.

Rick Helliwell, the Vice President Recruitment Human Resources of the Group explained during an interview at the Human Assets Expansion Congress Middle East: "We have today 4.4% UAE nationals in the business in Dubai with 24% of our senior management ranks filled by Nationals. In addition we also have 11% of our pilots and 11% of our Engineers who are Nationals. The focused development team supporting UAE Nationals is aimed at growing the competencies and careers of Nationals at all levels. The UAE National Recruitment team is constantly seeking to hire Nationals for school leaver programs, graduate entry positions, cadetship and apprenticeship programs and to appoint Nationals against positions set aside exclusively for Nationals."

With all the efforts put by Tanmia and external parties, there has been a significant increase in the number of nationals in the workforce. From 1995 to 2007, this number has increased from 37.5% to 54.4% and is expected to grow up to 63.3% by 2011.