Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi

 

I am visiting Poland, invited by its government. My Polish host asked me why Saudis are so dependent on foreign laborers. “Can’t you do all the work yourself?,” he wondered.



I wish we could, I answered. But give me a prosperous nation that did.

“Then admit it and appreciate what they do for you,” he retorted.



True. We seem to be lazy enough to hire others for hard work, and too proud to say thank you. The least we could do is to follow the example of Poland and other Western nations by giving expatriates state sponsorship.



Now that the royal decree gives non-compliant residents three months to correct their status, we need to ease their way with exceptions to the rules that make the transfer either hard or impossible. For example, it is not allowed to transfer during the first two years or to a red-category company. Bangladeshis cannot transfer at all. To encourage smooth implantation of the decree, a clear clarification of such mechanism must be announced.



We should also sharply observe the work of the concerned departments against misuse, harsh treatment and corruption.



Here are some of the comments I received from readers of my last article: “Labor Ministry: Where are the hearts and minds?” (April 9):



"I lived in Jeddah for fourteen years, heading  a multinational company. My children have fond memories of the country.



"I created a SR10billion business and set up an organization training and employing young Saudis, but had to leave unceremoniously because some ‘hearts and minds’ did not play their part then. It saddened me to read your observations that those do not play a part even now.”

— Anil Sethi, Canada



 "I was born in Jeddah to Indian parents who migrated in 1973. I had to go to India for my higher education, but returned regularly to visit my parents and perform Umrah. When my father retired, I transferred my residence permit to a Saudi friend.



"Being there all my childhood and youth and suddenly going back to a place which is new to me is hard to accept, but we should all understand that we came to work and eventually must return home.”

— K. M. Waheeb, India

 

“I believe that it is only fair that nationals should be employed first but what the ministry has done recently to expatriates was not fair or civilized.”

— Shaik Saber

“Many came to Saudi Arabia in 2013 and just received iqamas. Now they cannot transfer due to the 2 years rule minimum. Hope this is not the case under the three months grace period.”

— M. Zeeshan



“I paid SR 20,000 for the visa and was told I could work anywhere. I am among 10 engineers and thousands of labors working for a company that is not our sponsor and we haven’t been paid for seven months. We are trying now to transfer our sponsorship but what about the unpaid salaries? If we complain we might get arrested. Besides, we need the money to pay for the transfer.”

— Abdulkerim



“There are 3,800 different projects under way in Saudi Arabia. Dammam is developing as the regional hub for automotive assembly/manufacturing. Where will all the manpower come from? All the foreign investments will suddenly dry up because of such shortage.”

— Fasahat P., Riyadh

“Big companies and prominent businessmen are the first to break the labor laws! They will not stop unless they are defamed! Just the other day, I read about an expatriate who has committed a minor violation. His name and photo was widely published! Double standards?!”

— T. Tawfiq



“There is need to change the mindset. The foreigners are not criminals! They came in search of better opportunities, made the Kingdom their home, and serve it as their own country. They deserve better.”

— Dr. Mujahid Khan



“I am a third-generation expatriate in KSA with Western education and experience. I returned from a better financial job in the West hoping to grow old in the country I loved more than my origin. Two years later, I realized that my Western passport is more respected than me. It hurts!”

— Sami Khan



“The current laws should have been issued long ago to avoid illegal immigrants. Labor officials are equally accountable for  all this mess.”

— Udaykumar



“I am an Ethiopian with a university degree in Automotive Technology, who paid over SR20,000 to get a visa. I came as a ‘private driver’, and  without a job I may be deported. Why can’t I transfer to state sponsorship? Or at least get my money back?”

— Nur Kedir

Yes, why not indeed!

— Dr. Khaled Batarfi is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah. He can be reached at: Kbatarfi@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kbatarfi.