ABU DHABI // A Federal National Council committee has finished reviewing the fast-tracked military service bill, with its public debate set for next week.
The seven-member committee on Sunday met officials from the Armed Forces, including Brig Gen Salim Al Kaabi, to go through the proposed law.
It requires all Emirati men between the ages of 18 and 30 to complete military service and makes it optional for Emirati women.
The main change made on Sunday was the adding of a provision to give those who are unemployed an income while they complete their military service terms.
The meeting was the second the committee has held to review the bill, which was passed to the FNC in February after being drafted in January by the Federal Cabinet on the orders of the President, Sheikh Khalifa.
Because of the importance of the 44-article bill, Saeed Al Khateri (RAK), a member of the Interior and Defence Committee that has been studying and proposing amendments to the law, said it was finished over two meetings within an eight-day period.
While unable to reveal all amendments made to the bill until its public debate, he said one thing that was changed was an addition to the incentives for those who perform their national duty.
The bill – already giving priority in job placements and promotions and for marriage and land loans – will now provide all those without a job with an income while in the military.
“Those in the Government or private sector will continue to get their salaries, but we wanted something for those who were unemployed and serving in the military,” Mr Al Khateri said.
“The country must take responsibility for these people since they are serving the country.”
Mr Al Khateri said while reviewing the law, that the committee looked at similar initiatives in Israel, Turkey, Germany and Jordan.
He said the committee could not copy those since the number of nationals in the UAE was far less and a unique bill was needed.
The bill states that all those who serve must have a record of good conduct and be medically fit.
Participation in political or banned organisations makes them ineligible.
Service terms will be nine months for those who have completed secondary school and two years for those who have not.
For women, service is optional and will last nine months.
Men who have completed their military service will become part of the reserve forces until the age of 58, or 60 for officers.
“The law is very important for the country,” Mr Al Khateri said.
“It is very important for any country, but particularly for those with fewer nationals. We did not change much in the law, we just mentioned things that were left out to make it comprehensive.”
He said officials from the Armed Forces who attended the meeting were extremely cooperative and clarified a number of questions raised by council members.
Rashad Bukhash (Dubai), also a member of the committee who attended the meeting on Sunday, said only about 10 per cent of the bill was changed.
These included changes to language, a few articles and to fines on those who try to dodge military service.
“They were all little amendments, nothing substantial,” he said.
The bill has now been passed to the 40-member council, ready for public debate on Tuesday next week in the presence of officials from the Armed Forces.
After the law is passed on Tuesday, it will be sent to Sheikh Khalifa for final approval.
osalem@thenational.ae
