Companies warned over offering unskilled jobs to Emiratis

Prosecutors say employer broke law over adverts for menial roles ahead of January 1 deadline

Emiratis pictured at a job fair for UAE nationals. The government has major plans to boost the number working in the private sector. The National

A private sector company that advertised unskilled jobs for Emiratis is under investigation by prosecutors.

The unnamed firm's chief executive will be questioned over the job posting, which "broke both Emiratisation regulations and media content standards as it included contentious content", news agency Wam said.

Details about the company and the nature of the job were not disclosed.

The Federal Prosecution for Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes is questioning the company's chief executive, Wam said.

The attorney general said private sector businesses should adhere to the instructions in Ministerial Resolution 279.

By January 1, companies with more than 50 employees must ensure 2 per cent of their staff are Emirati under a government drive to encourage more citizens to enter the sector.

Last week, social media users complained that a fast food outlet offered Emiratis roles as sandwich makers in a job advert.

Jobs must be "skilled", the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said.

The government wants citizens make up 10 per cent of the private sector workforce by 2026.

Any employer that fails to reach the target will have to pay a fine of Dh72,000 in January for each Emirati worker they fail to hire, which equates to Dh6,000 a month for every month in 2022.

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