95 Emirati Students Land Healthcare Jobs Via Innovative Employment Contract

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), in a significant move to bolster the healthcare sector with local talent, has announced a successful collaboration with 37 private healthcare companies. This partnership has led to the signing of employment contracts with 95 Emirati students under the Studying Citizen Employment Contract initiative. This initiative, a brainchild of MoHRE and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis), aims to integrate Emirati students into the workforce by providing them with practical experience in their field of study, specifically within the healthcare sector supported by Nafis’ Healthcare Programme.

Under this innovative contract, students are entitled to a monthly allowance of at least AED4,000 and are required to be registered in an authorised pension fund in the UAE. Over the past three months, MoHRE, with the support of Nafis, hosted eight recruitment open days. These events saw the participation of 100 private healthcare companies and were designed to encourage these entities to attract Emirati talent, thereby supporting the national agenda of Emiratisation across various sectors.

Upon graduation, these contracts are set to be amended into Full-Time Employment of UAE Nationals Contracts, adhering to MoHRE-approved formats. Such amendments will include salary adjustments based on the companies' internal policies. Importantly, the duration of employment post-graduation will not be less than the time spent by the student under the Studying Citizen Employment Contract. This ensures that graduates are employed in roles that match their specialisations.

The training provided under these contracts covers essential healthcare professions such as nursing, pharmacy, radiography, medical laboratories, and physiotherapy. Graduates will continue their careers in these fields within the same healthcare institutions they were attached to during their studies. Notable among these institutions are NMC Royal Hospital, Burjeel Hospital, HMS Mirdif Hospital, and Amana Healthcare Village.

Ayesha Belharfia, Under-Secretary of Emiratisation Affairs at MoHRE, commended the participating companies for their commitment and encouraged further participation from the private healthcare sector. She highlighted the dual benefits of these contracts in providing job opportunities for Emirati talents in their fields of study and aiding companies in meeting their annual Emiratisation targets.

Ghannam Al Mazrouei, Secretary-General of the UAE Talent Competitiveness Council, expressed gratitude towards MoHRE for its strategic partnership with Nafis and lauded the private healthcare companies that have embraced this initiative. He underscored the importance of this contract in offering practical experience to students and facilitating their seamless transition into full-time professionals post-graduation, thereby strengthening the UAE's healthcare sector with skilled national cadres.

Students enrolled in Nafis’ Healthcare Programme undergo specialised training in various medical fields at prestigious academic institutions including Higher Colleges of Technology, Fatima College of Health Sciences, University of Fujairah, Ajman University, Gulf Medical University, University of Sharjah, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Abu Dhabi University, and Liwa College. This comprehensive educational exposure ensures that they are well-prepared for their future roles within the UAE's healthcare industry.

With inputs from WAM