DUBAI — Dubai Chamber’s Center for Responsible Business recently organized an online training workshop on the UAE National Self Employment Platform, which has been launched by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization. The workshop aimed to enhance awareness of the citizens and companies about this platform and its benefits, along with the methods of applying, especially in light of the challenges due to Covid-19. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization has launched this platform in partnership with the Emirates Foundation for Youth Development and the Federal Youth Foundation, and it gives skilled male and female citizens over the age of 21 years the opportunity to provide services to government and private agencies in return for a fee. The workshop, titled, “Engaging Skilled Emiratis through National Self- Employment Platform,” was organized by the Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network Taskforce on Emiratization, where participants from member companies of the Sustainability network attended. Introductory presentations were made by Maryam Khalifa Al-Jarman, director of special programs, Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization. Raji Hattar, chief sustainability officer, Aramex, spoke about the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) project, which Aramex conducted in cooperation with the Ministry to train young citizens to provide them with digital skills to work remotely especially during COVID-19 outbreak. Dr. Belaid Rettab, chief economist & senior director – economic research & sustainable business development sector, Dubai Chamber, pointed out the importance of the workshop in introducing young citizens on how to benefit from their skills and to gain additional work. He also spoke out the need for Emirati youth to cooperate with the government and private sector to learn from their experiences in implementing specific projects, stressing that this platform is an important step to upgrade and harness the skills of young citizens to serve the economy. Dr. Rettab also remarked on the importance of this workshop in creating awareness and providing information to all stakeholders on how they can benefit from this platform. He also praised the role played by Dubai Chamber’s Sustainability Network in promoting awareness about new initiatives and best practices. Meanwhile, Al-Jarman said the National Self-Employment Platform was launched in cooperation with both the Emirates Foundation for Youth Development and the Federal Youth Authority as part of a unique program aimed at supporting and empowering skilled Emiratis. It is the first interactive government platform aimed at harnessing the skills of national human resources for carrying out the projects of government bodies and private establishments, she added. The National Self-Employment Platform is based on linking the (independent) owners of national skills on the one hand and government and private entities on the other, she said, adding, that the platform helps strengthen the contractual and commercial relations between the two parties, thereby benefiting from the energies and skills to provide services in exchange for an income that would contribute to developing and expanding their independent businesses. Al Jarman called on skilled Emiratis to register and benefit from the platform and on the federal government entities to contribute effectively to the platform based on the complementarity of roles and joint responsibility in providing potential opportunities for skilled Emiratis by directing the purchases related to government projects through the platform. This would ensure that opportunities for carrying out these projects or temporary job tasks would continue to be provided to skilled Emiratis. Established by the Chamber’s Centre for Responsible Business (CRB), the Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network serves as the focal point for the business community to share and exchange best practices in implementing CSR and sharing sustainable best practices. The Centre for Responsible Business was established by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2004 to support and promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability. The center’s objective is to engage the Dubai business community in assuming greater responsibility for the emirate’s social and environmental needs. The center encourages Dubai Chamber members to implement responsible business practices that contribute to enhancing the performance of their organizations and their competitive capabilities. — SG