Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on Monday cancelled age requirement for jobs in the government sector.

This directive was announced by Dr Sheikh Sultan during the "Direct Line" programme, which is broadcast on Sharjah Radio and Television.

Dr Sheikh Sultan stated that Directorate of Human Resources must find a job for every workable citizen, regardless of age. Any citizen between 18-60 is entitled to have a job if he/she is eligible to work, Sheikh Sultan added.

The Directorate of Human Resources erred in applying the law issued by His Highness in 2018 regarding the Social Security Fund, and stopped hiring those over 30 years old, he said.

In a telephone intervention through the “Direct Line” programme, which was broadcast by Sharjah Broadcast Authority (SBA), His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, said, “I listened to the caller (Umm Saeed) from Kalba, who wondered about the reason of not getting hired, although she had been applying since 2008?”

His Highness explained that he had issued the Law regarding Social Security in 2018, and it stipulates that every citizen between 18-60 must be employed since he/she is eligible to work.

“In fact this law was misinterpreted, and was not applied in the manner intended by the law, as the Directorate worked hard, and stopped hiring those over 30 years old, even though the law did not mention this point at all,” Sheikh Sultan added.

He continued, “We receive a large number of job applications, because our salaries are high, and work only 4 days a week. Moreover, the maternity leave and annual leave is 60 days. In addition, university graduate in Sharjah receives a monthly salary of Dhs25,000 and a house as a grant among many other benefits.”

The Ruler of Sharjah also said, “Salaries increased in the Emirate of Sharjah, after adjustments had been made. But, the retirees before these increases receive a monthly pension of about Dhs12,000, while new retirees according to the new salaries after the increases receive a pension of Dhs17,500, and both buy their basic needs at the same price, as old retiree will not receive a special discount, so I raised their pensions. Then, another category emerged, which is retirees from federal entities, so we also addressed their conditions and equalized their pensions with retirees from local institutions.”

“We have 9,511 people in the Emirate of Sharjah, who receive aid from the Social Services Department, however these amount does not suffice their basic needs. These people are divided into 27 categories, including the widow who receives aid of Dhs2,000, and this is not enough for her. There are also divorced women, people with disabilities, the unemployed, the incapable patients, the retired with a meager retirement salary that is insufficient to sustain their families, orphaned children and adults, children of divorced women, who suffer from special problems such as mental illness, addiction or imprisonment,” Sheikh Sultan said.

His Highness also added, “We have among the 27 categories, the elderly who receive aid from the Ministry of Community Development, as a man and a woman receive Dhs8,400. I am now working to address all of their conditions, and there is no case that has no solution. We will not be satisfied unless the conditions of all these cases are addressed, God willing."