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The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced that all construction facilities with a 500 plus workforce must appoint at least one local occupational health and safety officer from 2017.

Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation explained, "We will stop granting facilities with over 500 workers any further work permits, if they don’t hire at least one local occupational health and safety officer."

"The decision came following a strategic plan to promote employment opportunities for locals in the private sector to implement Emiratisation which is a priority for the leadership," he said.

"The ministry aims to Emiratise the occupational health and safety profession following careful consideration of the sectors involved in the construction industry and major industrial enterprises where the possibilities were found to provide attractive and stable opportunities for Emirati job seekers."

Ghobash added that the Ministry will closely follow-up the implementation of the new directives across targeted facilities. "I personally believe in the adherence and commitment of employers of the decisions, especially since such a decree emphasises on employing qualified citizens. It is a joint and shared national responsibility between the government and the private sector," he elaborated.

The minister called upon citizens to seek job opportunities available to them in targeted facilities, and to prove their abilities to perform required tasks efficiently, especially since many rehabilitation programmes shall be organised by the ministry to prepare them for such challenging positions.