( Gulf ) - An increasingly competitive labour market, rising demand for greater incentives and the difficulty of retaining talented employees are all major challenges facing businesses in the Gulf, according to research by The British University in Dubai (BUiD).
"Companies need to finds ways to support ongoing efforts to encourage the inclusion of more nationals in the private sector, and be prepared to adapt to the changing regulations relating to the sponsorship system for foreign labourers," BUiD said.
According to research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the UK's leading body on people management, many companies don't have a strategy in place to help deal with these issues.
A CIPD survey of executives and senior managers in over 1,500 organisations revealed that 74 per cent of companies did not have a developed plan in place to manage talent. To help analyse how this apparent shortfall can be improved, the CIPD will facilitate a workshop at BUiD, bringing together leading employers, BUiD faculty members and representatives of the Dubai Human Resources Forum.
"A major part of BUiD's mission is to provide research-based insight into key economic issues for the region. The challenge of managing talent is critically-important across all major industries, so this forum will provide a vital opportunity to analyse the current trends and potential solutions," said Dr Abdullah Al Shamsi, vice-chancellor of BUiD.
Linda Holbeche, director of policy and research, CIPD, who will lead the workshop, is one of the most senior representatives of the CIPD to visit the UAE. The CIPD has a strong track record in supporting cutting-edge research in people management and development issues.