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Emirati health and safety officers to become mandatory

Construction companies employing over 500 workers will soon be obliged to hire at least one Emirati Occupational Health and Safety Officer.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said the new rule will come into force in 2017, according to UAE news agency WAM.

Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, said: “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 is part of the Emiratisation strategic plan to promote employment opportunities for locals in the private sector, 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.”

The minister called upon Emirati citizens to seek job opportunities available to them and to prove their ability to carry out the roles, adding that many training programmes will be organised by the ministry to prepare them for the positions.

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