Aktuelle Informationen aus den Ländern des Golf-Kooperationsrates GCC

Die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate (VAE) erhöhen die Bildungsausgaben, die Arbeitslosenquote in den Ländern des Golf-Kooperationsrates (Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC) erreicht Rekordhoch und die Nationale Gesundheitsbehörde von Katar richtet ein Komitee zur Katarisierung ein.


UAE budgetary allocation for education on the rise
Khaleej Times - 16 September, 2006

In 2005, the GCC governments spent about $ 26 billion on education while the UAE was at the forefront in this field, increasing its budgetary allocation for education from 17.08 per cent in 2004 to 17.20 per cent in 2005, a recent study said.

Further, the study said that currently, more than 10,000 pupils graduate from UAE schools every year with a large number of them pursuing tertiary education. This was possible because of increasing opportunities available in the field of higher education in the country. In addition to it, in the emerging higher education institutes in the country, students are also offered platforms such as education shows that promise a range of opportunities.

The second edition of one such show will take place this year at the Expo Centre Sharjah from October 30 to November 2. It will be organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the UAE Ministry of Education and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). The upcoming edition of the show will feature universities, colleges, institutes of higher learning, computer schools, business schools, technical institutes, management training centres, language centres, aviation centres, book suppliers and others. Among the countries from which a huge number of universities and educational institutes will be participating in the show are Australia, India, Britain, and Switzerland.

UAE-based universities and educational institutes too will have a significant presence. The participation of UAE University, Shaikh Zayed University, Al Ghurair University, American University of Sharjah, University of Sharjah and University of Dubai is expected to be a major attraction for students keen to pursue education within the country.

Besides offering a wide range of regular higher degree and skill enhancement courses, both in the UAE and abroad, the show will provide visitors with other benefits as well. These include direct access and opportunity for face-to-face interactions with representativess from participating institutes, presence of trained counsellors for helping students and parents select the right course and institute, spot admission for eligible students at select institutes and complete information and guidance on eligibility criteria, course information, fee structures, job prospects, etc.

“The hosting of the education show at a time when the GCC states are striving to substantially increase admission rates to institutions of higher education assumes special significance,” said Saif Al Midfa, Director General, Expo Centre Sharjah.

“Within the UAE, the factors that have to a large extent contributed towards the current spotlight on higher education include increased government spending on the education sector as a result of high oil revenues, decreasing student drop-out rate, emphasis on the Emiratisation drive and a growing affluent expatriate population,” he added.

Al Midfa further said that the show, in accordance with the growing demand for higher education opportunities within the region in general and the country in particular, will ensure an imposing presence of a large number of reputed institutes of higher learning from across the globe. “It will be an effective search channel not only for fresh school-leavers and undergraduates seeking quality higher education, but also for working professionals and executives who wish to pursue higher education at home or abroad,” said Al Midfa.

“The event will also be an excellent opportunity for local educational institutions and agencies who are interested in exploring possibilities of tie-ups and franchisee operations with their foreign counterparts,” he added.

The last edition of the show, which was held from March 6 to March 11 last year, attracted a total of 13,132 visitors.




GCC jobless rate at record high
Bahrain Tribune - 17 September, 2006

The flow of the expatriate workers to the Gulf has increased 11 times in the last six years, posing a serious challenge to the region’s policymakers how to strike a demographic balance.

The total number of the foreign workers crossed 11.2 million during the 1975 to 2000, showed a survey findings presented at the opening of the two-day workshop on “nationalising jobs and combating unemployment in the GCC – challenges and solutions” being held in Bahrain under the patronage of the Minister of Labour, Dr Majeed bin Mohsin Al Alawi.

The foreign-local workers ratio in the GCC is also presenting a very alarming situation as since the year 2000 the foreign workers crossed the 70 per cent against the 47 per cent between 1975 and 2000. These trends have impacted the GCC economies adversely with unemployment touching the record highs across the oil-rich region.
According to experts there is a need to create 30,000 jobs a year and formulate joint strategy to absorb maximum locals in the estimated 100,000 new jobs a year being filled with the expatriate workforce.

The 64 per cent foreign workforce in the GCC versus locals is highest in the world against 25 per cent in Singapore, 24 per cent in Austrailia, 20 per cent in Canada, 9 per cent in the US and 4 per cent in the UK.

The nine topics to be discussed during the seminar include the reality of unemployment in the GCC, the relation between demographic structures and unemployment and GCC governments’ legislations and policies on nationalising work forces and combating unemployment. The recently announced labour reforms across the region have necessitated the governments to allow free movement of the inter-GCC national labour as well as restricting some jobs for their respective nationals.

The event brought together the GCC Ministers of Labour, experts, businessmen and private sector players to discuss the impact of the nationalisation and creation of new jobs.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Majeed bin Mohsin Al Alawi said that labour reforms in the Kingdom have been completed almost 80 per cent in a record time. “We have to see these initiatives across the region as this is not a problem for any single nation but it is a regional challenge and all countries have been working hard to find a permanent solution.

The two-day event also attracted the representatives of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, GCC chambers of commerce and industry and civil establishments. A large number of delegates including specialists and experts from universities and research centres will also deliberate on this regional issue.

The BCCI Chairman, Dr Essam Fakhro, said: “The unemployment is now on the top priority of the GCC states and hoped for an effective joint solution to this problem. A discussion session bringing together ministers, concerned GCC officials and business owners is one of the main highlights of the seminar. The experts in different sessions will tackle issues related to the situation of national labour force, labour market, nationalising workforces and fighting unemployment in general.”



NHA sets up committee for Qatarisation
The Peninsula - 18 September, 2006

The National Health Authority (NHA) is setting up a special committee to look into its ambitious plans for Qatarisation of jobs in the health sector, NHA CEO Dr Michael Walsh said here yesterday.

Addressing a press conference at the NHA premises yesterday, Walsh said a range of procedures have been put into place as part of the project, which will be overseen by the Qatarisation Committee.

The project will gain momentum with the appointment of more Qatari staff in the NHA. He cited the appointment of Abdulaziz bin Abdulla Al Sulaiti as director of Communications and Media Relations as an example.

"We have to balance the need for people with skills and knowledge against the vision of the higher authorities," Walsh said. The Qatari staff at the erstwhile Ministry of Public Health who form 71 per cent of the total staff at the Ministry will be transferred to various positions at NHA.

Of the total 1,020 staff at the Ministry, 721 are Qataris. Only 55 of them, including 17 Qataris, were transferred to the NHA. Of the 10 people appointed in senior management positions so far, eight are Qataris.

By the end of this year, the number of NHA employees is expected to grow up to 145, of whom 59 will be Qataris. By March next year, 65 per cent of the staff at NHA will be Qataris, when migration of the Ministry employees is completed.

All new jobs at the NHA involving senior positions will go to Qataris after an assessment which is to be made by the Qatarisation Committee. However, expatriate hands will be taken on in certain areas like health insurance, where there is a shortage of native skills, he said.

The NHA will implement a staff assessment programme to improve the skills of all its employees. The Qatarisation Committee will review this project over the coming months and all NHA staff will have a personal development plan.

The Authority has also embarked on a leadership and management training programme for future Qatari leaders, he added. A key content of the Qatarisation project is to develop Qatari staff to take over all technical positions.