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Dubai: Many Emiratis working in the banking sector feel discouraged and dejected, saying they are discriminated against.
Placing the blame on the Central Bank, they say it is not doing a proper job regarding emiratisation of the industry.
They also say employees are not given the chance to prove themselves.
Younis Al Ansari, branch manger at the Standard Chartered Bank in Dubai, said Emiratis may be entitled to the post of general manger but "with limited powers."
He said the Central Bank demands 40 per cent emiratisation but does not take positive steps in implementing this or in following up issues of Emirati employees.
"There is no inspection or even a committee to find out how emiratisation is working," he said.
He said at the end of each year the bank starts a training programme for around 40 Emiratis, at the end of the scheme fewer than 10 remain.
He said Emiratis were not to be blamed for not wanting to work in the sector. The nature of the work was hard and unrewarding, the main problem being long working hours, lack of days off and short holidays.
"There is an idea that Emiratis are not hard working or not that capable. Even if Emiratis are qualified and experienced they will face unfair treatment from the foreign management of the bank where they are working. The foreign management will appreciate the work of any foreign staff but not the Emiratis, who most of the time are not encouraged," he added.
He said Emiratis preferred to work for national banks. Mohammad Al Gufaili, branch manger at Sharjah Islamic Bank in Dubai said in other GCC countries, such as Saudi Arabia, there are no 100 per cent foreign-owned banks, for example HSBC in Saudi Arabia is called the British-Saudi Bank and the percentage of Saudis working in such banks should be no less than 80 per cent.
"This is what I call a successful step towards emiratisation if it was applied here."
He said many banks in the UAE preferred to pay the penalty for not hiring Emiratis as it is cheaper than hiring and training Emiratis.
"Emiratisation is not practically implemented and the Central Bank is not doing its job appropriately. We work six days a week. All governmental departments work five days. The Central Bank told us it will take a decision in this regard but nothing has been done yet. We need fixed working times, holidays and days off similar to the government sector otherwise no Emirati will work in a bank."
Bank employee Ali Yousuf Haji said: "Emiratis are not given the chance to prove themselves or to reach a high position in foreign banks. There is discrimination against Emiratis especially from the foreign management. Somebody will say Emiratis are demanding which is not true. We are trying to give our best but we are suppressed," he said.
Khowla works in the financial market and said priority is always given to expatriates in the banking sector.
"We have to be given the chance to work in our own country. The Central Bank should move quickly to solve this problem," she said.
Your comments
UAE nationals are very much capable of working as hard as expats and they have the knowlegde and attitude. If given the chance they could prove theirselves as most of them nowadays are very well educated and speak fluently in English and Arabic.
H. Ayas
Dubai,UAE
I think training programmes should be implemented and the concerned individuals should be tested at the end in order to select the eligible and motivated ones for the job. It will be good for the Emiratis and for the banks.
N. Nissy
Dubai,UAE
I totally agree with the above from my experience. Many companies just recurit UAE nationals to reach their target without any care for the employee. For example, a UAE national with a Masters degree should not be given routine administrative work such as filing and dispatch.
Isamil
Dubai,UAE
The Central Bank has to give opportunities to nationals. The rule implemented in Saudi Arabia is correct.
A.F. S.
Dubai,UAE
I used to work for a Dubai-based foreign bank and I was always annoyed to see that Emiratis were given the simplest tasks and less important positions which really discourages them and increase their turnover. They have the potenial and they should be given the opporunity.
Shadi
Dubai,UAE
I agree with the comment that the Government should create opportunities for Emiratis by giving all employees regardless of sector the same working days and same holidays. This way the government will really encourage Emiratis to work in the private sector. Unless this is done, the programme will not be a success.
I also do not agree that the Emiratis are discriminated. I see that they have really good opportunities and are generally prefered if skilled and generally generate higher salaries than foreign workers even in Banks.
Emiratis should also accept that they have to learn to live with foreigners and treat them equally.
L. M.
Dubai,UAE
I would have to agree that Emiratis have to be given a chance to work in their own country. I have personally come across so many Emiratis who most certainly are capable and hardworking. It would only seem logical to have majority of Emiratis in the public sector and banks. Being an expat I think that everyday we are seeing more and more Emiratis in high posts, so I would have to disagree on the fact that Emiratis are being discriminated.
Lisa
Dubai,UAE
As an expat living and working here in the UAE, I find it totally unacceptable that citizens of this country are discriminated against by expats. This country inevitably is for Emiratis and they should be the ones charged with running the financial sector.
A. Hamza
Sharjah,UAE
I think it's sad that the Emiratis are not given a fair chance. I don't think the responsibiltiy should lie with the UAE Central Bank. The central bank in any country is responsible for the monetary policy and not the employment policy. It's the government's responsibility to look into the plight of its people's unemployment.
Mukesh
Toronto,Canada
You cannot start at the top. You have to work your way there. It's not pretty. It's not easy. And, often, it's not rewarding. Welcome to the working week in the real world.
D. Edwards
Toronto,Canada
Give the citizens a chance, let them do the job right and I'm sure they'll make it.
S. H. Mahmoud
Minnesota,USA
My sympathy goes to all the workers working long hours from 9 in the morning till 10 in the evening, 6 days a week without overtime and holiday pay, no annual leave and no salary increase and tied by their company for 3-4 years signed contract. I am not against emiratisation. But you must look to others too who are suffering much worst e than what you are experiencing now.
M. Ortiz
Dubai,UAE
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