Minister highlights private sector nationalisation plan

HE the Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri has stressed the importance of the private sector in Qatar's sustainable development and economic growth, highlighting that the nationalisation plan would be shaped through consultations with the private sector before being approved by the Cabinet.This came in a speech delivered by HE Dr al-Marri at a panel discussion titled "Nationalisation of Jobs in the Private Sector for 2025-2026," organised by the Ministry of Labour on Monday. The session was attended by senior officials from the ministry, CEOs, and HR directors from private sector companies.The event aimed to foster ongoing communication with private sector representatives, ensuring alignment with nationalisation objectives and promoting the integration of a highly skilled Qatari workforce into the private sector.In his opening remarks, HE the Minister of Labour indicated that the Ministry of Labour has been working to enhance the digital infrastructure of the labour sector, introducing continuous updates to digital services aimed at simplifying processes for businesses and employers, facilitating quicker transactions, and improving the overall work environment.He emphasised the crucial role played by the partnership between the public and private sectors in the labour market, enhancing their collective capacity to overcome challenges. He noted that the Ministry of Labour has organised numerous meetings and consultative workshops with private sector representatives to improve the work environment and expand employment opportunities for citizens.HE Dr al-Marri further clarified that the enactment of the nationalisation law for the private sector would propel efforts to attract a national workforce into a highly effective trajectory through the implementation of a comprehensive national programme offering facilities and incentives. He stressed that the primary objective of the law is to support the private sector, not to impose obstacles on companies and institutions.He said that the ministry would roll out a package of incentive programmes for private sector entities. These will include covering the employers' contribution to the General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority, granting additional work permits, and providing national awards for entities excelling in nationalisation efforts.He also highlighted that the Cabinet had, in principle, approved the establishment of the Qatar Nationalisation Award for the private sector, which will serve as a positive competitive incentive among private sector institutions in their efforts to nationalise jobs.Chairman of the Qatar Chamber, HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani, emphasised the importance of nationalisation in securing employment for Qatari citizens and contributing to the development of a sustainable workforce. He stressed that nationalisation should be viewed as an opportunity for businesses to improve productivity and competitiveness, not merely as a regulatory obligation.HE Sheikh Khalifa also praised the ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and the Qatar Chamber, which serves as a model for effective public-private sector partnership. He highlighted the joint committees that work diligently to address private sector issues within the ministry's remit. During the session, representatives of companies participating in the pilot phase of the plan shared their experiences, highlighting the effectiveness of the partnership between private sector companies and the Ministry of Labour. They emphasized how this collaboration has successfully facilitated the employment of Qataris and children of Qatari women in recent months.The nationalization plan targets eight strategic sectors, which will be represented by sectoral councils: manufacturing, logistics, tourism, IT, finance, education, agriculture, and healthcare. This phased approach allows businesses to gradually align with nationalization goals, starting with a foundation phase focused on skills development through sector-specific training programmes. This is followed by a capacity-building phase prioritising the employment of Qatari nationals and children of Qatari women. Finally, the comprehensive transformation phase will ensure a long-term and sustainable shift in the workforce.The plan includes several incentives for Qatari nationals and children of Qatari women in the private sector. These incentives include a salary support programme that covers salaries for Qatari nationals and children of Qatari women to encourage them to join the private sector, as well as support for social allowances, retirement contributions, and social insurance.The plan also offers incentives to private sector employers, such as full coverage of the employer's contributions to the General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority during the first year, with gradual reductions in support thereafter. Other incentives include additional work permits, work permit renewals, and awards for organisations that meet nationalization targets.Furthermore, the plan will include a series of qualification and training programmes, including a training programme for recent graduates and job seekers, a programme for students at higher education institutions, skills development for high school graduates, leadership preparation for the private sector, and a government scholarship programme to support private sector companies in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.The nationalization of jobs is in line with Qatar's Vision 2030, which aims to create opportunities for quality employment and training for all citizens, contributing to human development as a key pillar of national progress.