Tuesday 24 February 2009

Nationals' job protection may return to haunt Emirates

Was the United Arab Emirates' decision to regulate further the dismissal of nationals working in the private sector a knee-jerk reaction or a necessary measure?

Not surprisingly, the answer depends largely on who you speak to. To many Emiratis, it was the right move in a climate of uncertainty to safeguard a tiny pool of nationals - less than 0.5 per cent of the some 3m workers in the country - who work in the private sector as companies throughout the UAE lay people off.

Officials defended the decision by speaking of a social responsibility to keep all Emiratis in work, and described the action as part of efforts to create "stability and prosperity for its people".

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