Nationalisation programmes should not be allowed to hinder recruitment of talent, says Khaja

According to Khaja, 80 per cent of companies in the region have expressed recruitment difficulties. He attributes this to a number of reasons, namely a lack of in-house training and career opportunities; and a non-strategic approach to nationalisation.

Khaja said: "While many companies are aware of their nationalisation targets - and are making strident moves towards these targets - they need to take a strategic approach on recruitment.

"Many companies have a diversity policy, but only 25 per cent of them actually evaluate the effectiveness of the methods they use to encourage nationals."

A long-term approach - and an integrated human resources policy - is the most effective answer, he argues.

"Employing nationals to hit government figures alone will not work. We need to develop our staff, including nationals, to ensure the best 'fit' between job and employee. A nationalisation programme need never be followed at the expense of recruiting talent: they should be operated hand-in-hand."

These findings mirror the results of the recruitment, retention and turnover survey, undertaken by the UK-based Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. CIPD accredited programmes are now available in the UAE through knet.

Khaja explained: "The findings in the UK concentrate around equal gender and race employment opportunities, but the principles are the same in Arabia, thanks to the region's nationalisation drive."

CIPD is the UK's leading professional body in the field of personnel and development, with more than 116,000 members throughout the UK and Ireland. Accredited courses operated by knet, Certificate in Personnel Practice, Certificate in Training Practice, and Certificate in Recruitment and Selection, start in September.

knet is an independent training and management consultancy, and specialises in live speaker seminars and business conferences including IHR Arabia. It provides access to a network of international, regional and local organisations, such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, Institute of Administrative Management, and the Institute of Leadership and Management as well as the Masters Certificate in Project Management from Regis University.