Mr Mattar Al Tayer chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority, reaffirmed RTA's commitment to press ahead with the Emiratisation plan of Dubai Metro and execute the contract signed with Serco Company the operator and maintainer of the Dubai Metro, which provides for creating job opportunities and offering training for UAE nationals such that Emiratisation rates should grow to reach 30 to 50 per cent in the leadership and supervisory jobs over the initial five years of the Metro Operation.
Mr Al Tayer made this statement in a broad gathering held with Emiratis working at Serco in the presence of the Mr Adnan Al Hammadi CEO of RTA Rail Agency, Mr Zafar Raja CEO of Serco Middle East, Mr Terry Worrall CEO of Dubai Metro Operation and several Directors of the Rail Agency.
Mr Al Tayer welcomed Emirati employees asking them to commit serious and dedicated efforts in their jobs in the interest of the nation and achievement of satisfaction of the Dubai Metro users. He specifically called upon them to implement the rules and regulations set by the RTA to maintain the project facilities, enforce the law against offenders, benefit from the existing expertise to enhance their careers, and to be part of the success story of the Dubai Metro, the Green Line of which is to be inaugurated by the RTA next September.
Mr Al Tayer said that "You have to be proud of taking employment in this national project; which is one of the leading projects in the world and was credited by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum VP and PM of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai when he said: The UAE takes pride in Dubai Metro. RTA is keen on attracting national cadres, enrolling them in training programs and despatching them to local and international conferences and exhibitions to uplift their career profile, push them to keep pace with modernity and make Emiratisation a concrete reality."
He said that RTA assigns top priority to Emiratization together with the academic qualification and promoting the skills of nationals as spelled out in the goals of RTA Strategic Plan which aims to make the RTA the first career choice of qualified human resources through enhancing its competitive edge in attracting talents, attaining self satisfaction of specialized national cadres, and establishing a comprehensive system for employees motivation and retention.
Mr Al Tayer said that RTA always conducts periodic audit to verify Serco's commitment to emiratise jobs and attract more nationals in fulfillment of the contract provisions. The Co has been directed to limit the recruitment of enforcement officers, front-end employees, and ticket collectors exclusively to Emirati nationals. The total number of Emiratis employed by Serco is currently 134 employees comprising 93 males and 41 females deployed in various job specialities at the metro stations and carriages, and 15 of whom occupy leading positions. At the expiry of the contract made between the RTA and Serco under which Serco operates the Metro, RTA will run the metro operation itself where those employees will be joining the RTA.
RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director further explained that employees who joined Serco were subjected to five training courses lasting 14 days focusing on topics such as customer service, developing communication and interaction skills and enhancing safety. Over the last two years the Company had run about 30 specialist courses in the respective fields of work of those employees.
(Sourced from Emirates Business 24/7.com)
