Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Somaiya Saad, Staff Reporter

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) has announced that 22 companies have collaborated to support the 'Towards a Safer Society' initiative, which was launched by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

Additionally, another 80 companies have expressed interest in participating.

This expanding corporate support reflects a willingness to contribute to the humanitarian initiatives offered by the UAE and to facilitate the rectification of status for individuals, enabling them to live and work with dignity.

This is part of a broader social responsibility and commitment to enhance community stability, (GDRFA) added.

In light of these pioneering solutions, the GDRFA persists in its endeavours to attain the initiative's stated objectives.

Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General, explained that the Department is observing a considerable surge in the number of companies expressing interest in joining the initiative, which augments prospects for collaboration between the government and private sectors to accomplish the initiative's objectives.

In the initial stages of the initiative, participating companies have conducted interviews with approximately 4,000 individuals within the first two weeks.

The number continues to grow as a result of the combined efforts of the administrative authorities and the participating companies.

A total of 58 individuals have been successfully placed in positions that align with their qualifications and experience. The remaining candidates are currently undergoing the necessary adjustments to their status.

Lieutenant General Al Marri stated that the criteria for selecting individuals include educational qualifications, professional experience, personal skills, professional certificates (if any), as well as the successful completion of interviews and tests set by the companies in question.

Major General Salah Ahmed Al Qamzi, Assistant Director General of the Violators and Foreigners Tracking Sector, emphasised the encouraging success stories that have emerged from the initiative, stating that each one is a testament to the Department's unwavering commitment to providing training and development programmes for new employees, with the aim of fostering stability and facilitating career advancement.

These endeavours are distinguished by their adaptability in offering a multitude of employment prospects that transcend conventional domains, thereby facilitating the inclusion of a vast number of individuals.

The employment areas include construction, transport and logistics, auxiliary labour, manufacturing and catering, thereby broadening the range of opportunities available to those seeking employment.

The companies in question are committed to offering a range of benefits to their employees, including competitive salaries, health insurance, housing, paid holidays, and training and professional development programmes that contribute to the ongoing development of their workforce.

Furthermore, some companies provide supplementary assistance in the form of mentoring programmes, financial assistance for specific circumstances, and the coverage of children's educational expenses, thereby fostering a stable and balanced work environment.

As part of its ongoing endeavours to buttress economic and social stability, GDRFA persists in broadening its network of collaboration with the private sector with the objective of augmenting employment prospects and establishing an integrated milieu that encompasses disparate sectors.

The initiative has demonstrated considerable success, with 100% of individuals who were employed expressing satisfaction, indicating its efficacy in addressing the needs of beneficiaries and enhancing their quality of life.