Government officials should swiftly finalize their plan to “appoint Qatari citizens in jobs occupied by foreigners,” the country’s prime minister has said.

According to QNA, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani added that Qataris must meet the necessary requirements for such positions.

Al Thani raised the issue recently while speaking to the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor & Social Affairs (MADLSA).

He didn’t specify whether the jobs were to be in the public or private sector.

But last year, officials did pledge to further nationalize government positions so that some nine out of 10 such jobs would be held by Qataris by 2026.

Qatarization

The renewed push to Qatarize comes as the nation’s five-year National Development Strategy reaches its conclusion.

It had aimed to increase the proportion of Qataris in the private sector to 15 percent by this year.

But only a fraction of nationals have entered that workforce.

Experts have said this is partly because Qataris appear to prefer better-paying public-sector positions, which also offer more favorable working hours and job security.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s PM has also instructed MADLSA to establish a “clear and quick” process to help Qatari citizens find housing.

Thoughts?