Saudi Arabia: Do We Still Need Expats? Saudization And The Importance Of Addressing The Tasattur (Cover Up)
13 May 2018By
Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Economy and Planning Muhammad Al-Tuwaijri has
affirmed that Saudization is a goal and that there can be no dispute about it.
However, total Saudization of the labor market can only be achieved in a
phased manner with an evaluation after each phase. He also highlighted the
importance of addressing the tasattur (cover up) issue in a strategic way
because of its economic, social and security impact on the nation.
Minister Al-Tuwaijri made the remarks during a recent meeting with the
chairman and members of the board of directors of the Riyadh Chamber of
Commerce and Industry in the presence of a number of local businessmen at the
chamber's headquarters. According to a report published in Okaz newspaper, the
minister stated that the private sector has prominence in all deliberations
pertaining to implementation of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. He said that the
Vision's plans are proceeding in accordance with specific yardsticks. The
minister pointed out that some of the challenges facing the Vision are
summarized in three pivotal points: communications; mega projects and the
capability to implement them; and the cost of these major projects and their
funding channels.
He said that a new law would be adopted soon to ensure participation of both
the public and private sectors so as to improve the value of the economy.
According to the minister, privatization will be open to both domestic and
foreign private investors. He also unveiled plans to privatize some key
sectors in the near future, including desalination plants, mills, airports and
transport, in addition to the health sector, which would be partial in the
beginning. Al-Tuwaijri emphasized that the state is keen not simply on the
growth of the economy but also on the quality of its growth. He added that
work is underway to upgrade policies by carrying out studies on all aspects,
including their positive and negative effects.
I would like to draw attention to a previous statement of Al-Tuwaijri with
regard to Saudization. He said: "Dispensing with expatriate workers is a
priority of his ministry and that the projects will be implemented by taking
advantage of local capabilities." This is undoubtedly a bold step to be
reckoned with, and I thank him for that. However, we have to recognize the
fact that the distance between our plan of dispensing with expatriates and its
implementation is not a short one. As for expatriate workers, they have
contributed immensely in implementing the development programs that enabled
our country to scale the ladders of progress and development.
Therefore, we must thank them and stop the accusations that they are taking
the job opportunities that otherwise would go to Saudi citizens. We also have
to stop blaming them for transferring money to their countries. Some of these
accusations are irrational and unreasonable. Expatriates came to this country
in a legal way with valid visas and on labor contracts. They have proved their
commitment in serving the country while staying in the Kingdom up to the
moment when we no longer need them. Hence, those whom we are sending back to
their countries must be given all their rights and they should be treated in a
dignified way during their stay in the country.
In this way, they will be able to go back to their country satisfactorily and
grateful to the host country, with sweet memories about this nation. This is
what must be done. As far as saying that they are transferring huge sums of
money to their countries, we can say that this is their right as a result of
their sweat and toil. They are entitled to transfer the portion of money that
they have earned after meeting their local expenses. They are living away from
their country, suffering the pains of alienation and facing difficulties at
their places of work. They have suffered to earn money in order to support
their family and relatives back home and save some money to spend in their old
age.
Okaz also published another report saying that as many as 466,000 expatriate
workers left the Saudi labor market during the last quarter of 2017. Citing
figures released by the General Authority for Statistics, the report showed
that 100,000 Saudis entered the local market during the same period but it did
not mention the number of Saudis who replaced the expatriate workers who left
the Kingdom. It is expected that the percentage of Saudis who replaced
expatriate workers is very small. Most of these expatriates left the Kingdom
on final exit following the imposition of a fee on them by the Ministry of
Labor and Social Affairs. Moreover, the fees imposed on their dependents also
forced them to leave the Kingdom. This is clearly the case for those
expatriates who have several children but only a limited income and as such
can no longer afford to keep their family in the Kingdom. Some of them have
sent their wives and children home and have remained in the Kingdom alone.
Those who could not live alone after sending their family home opted to
accompany them on final exit. This has resulted in a large number of
residential apartments remaining vacant with a drop in rates of house rent.
Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi is a former Saudi diplomat who specializes in Southeast
Asian affairs. He can be reached at algham@hotmail.com
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