Emiratis steer clear of taxi-driving jobs

Another gem from The National:

SHARJAH // An attempt to recruit Emiratis as taxi drivers in Sharjah has been a “complete failure”, according to a senior transport official.

Despite embracing a programme of Emiratisation, the Sharjah Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) said all of the nearly 20,000 taxi-driving positions in the emirate continue to be filled by expatriates.

Emiratis were actively recruited and promised higher wages relative to those of other nationalities, although SPTC officials would not give details.

Mohammed al Shamsi, the chairman of the board of directors of the SPTC, told the Sharjah Consultative Council the results were disappointing. “We admit this whole campaign was a complete failure,” he said, responding to a question from the council member Abdullah Sultan bin Khadim about the progress of Emiratisation. “We have tried several times, and I will tell you that we shall continue trying.”

Emiratisation process among taxi drivers almost five years ago, only one national had enquired about a position as a driver.

“He called in the evening saying that he wanted a job as a driver, and in the morning, we called him back – he said he didn’t want the job anymore,” Mr al Shamsi said. “We asked him why and if he had got another job – he said he was a national and was content to remain unemployed if he didn’t get a decent job as a national.”