Don’t Forget Your Heritage, Al-Gosaibi Urges Saudis
Siraj Wahab,
Siraj Wahab,
Source: Arab News
(comments in blue)
Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi makes a point at the 9th Jeddah Economic Forum that concluded on Tuesday. (AN photo by Khidr Al-Zahrani)
JEDDAH, 27 February 2008 — Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi yesterday made an impassioned plea to the private sector to create more opportunities and provide greater incentives for young Saudis.
Speaking on the last day of the highly successful Jeddah Economic Forum, Al-Gosaibi said most young Saudis were talented and hard working. “The image that is projected by the media is wrong,” he said. “It focuses on a few bad examples. That is not the case with the large majority of our youngsters.”
Al-Gosaibi lam basted Saudi businessmen who criticize the Saudi work force. “Those who say that Saudi youth are not dependable, that they are not accountable, that they shun work, that they are not hard working, I ask them: ‘Where are they themselves from — Sweden or Norway? Did they not come from this same country? Is it not true that their fathers, mothers and sisters built this great Kingdom?’ If Saudis are not hard working, who built all these business empires — these big businesses that we see around us today?”
Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi makes a point at the 9th Jeddah Economic Forum that concluded on Tuesday. (AN photo by Khidr Al-Zahrani)
JEDDAH, 27 February 2008 — Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi yesterday made an impassioned plea to the private sector to create more opportunities and provide greater incentives for young Saudis.
Speaking on the last day of the highly successful Jeddah Economic Forum, Al-Gosaibi said most young Saudis were talented and hard working. “The image that is projected by the media is wrong,” he said. “It focuses on a few bad examples. That is not the case with the large majority of our youngsters.”
Al-Gosaibi lam basted Saudi businessmen who criticize the Saudi work force. “Those who say that Saudi youth are not dependable, that they are not accountable, that they shun work, that they are not hard working, I ask them: ‘Where are they themselves from — Sweden or Norway? Did they not come from this same country? Is it not true that their fathers, mothers and sisters built this great Kingdom?’ If Saudis are not hard working, who built all these business empires — these big businesses that we see around us today?”
No they are not coming from abroad but they have spent considerable time abroad, may be were raised there too and learned the values of hardworking rather than a generation which lived in limbo leeching oil money from government reserves. And then most of them went around the world on government expenses to propogate wahabbism on behalf of Al-Sauds and fund religious terrorism
Al-Gosaibi specifically mentioned self-made Saudi financier Abdul Aziz Al-Rajhi. “He rose from being an ordinary man in a local market to a big businessman. Is he not a Saudi? Is he not one of us? There are lot Al-Rajhis out there looking for opportunities to grow,” he said. He went on to point out the recent case of a young Saudi who took a loan from Muhammad Jameel of ALJ Co. Ltd. and then parlayed it into a SR450 million contract.
Al-Gosaibi said the success of the economy rested with the private sector’s ability to motivate young Saudis — many who grew up in an era of luxury — to work.
Al-Gosaibi specifically mentioned self-made Saudi financier Abdul Aziz Al-Rajhi. “He rose from being an ordinary man in a local market to a big businessman. Is he not a Saudi? Is he not one of us? There are lot Al-Rajhis out there looking for opportunities to grow,” he said. He went on to point out the recent case of a young Saudi who took a loan from Muhammad Jameel of ALJ Co. Ltd. and then parlayed it into a SR450 million contract.
Al-Gosaibi said the success of the economy rested with the private sector’s ability to motivate young Saudis — many who grew up in an era of luxury — to work.
Or an era of limbo where government siphoned free cash, facilities and idiotic religious-only education circular into citizens in fear that a knowledgeable and developed workforce could mount anti-Saudi rebellion in future. Only until shit hits the walls and oil revenues aren't proving enough.
“The private sector should facilitate their integration into the job market,” he said. “The kind of conditions now imposed on them makes things difficult for them at the workplace. In the past, Saudis worked only in the public sector. They would work four hours a day, five days a week, and God only knows if they worked at all. Now, you are asking them to work in the private sector. They are being told to work for 48 hours instead of 35 a week; they have to work not one shift, but two shifts. They are told that if they take leave other than the two-week annual leave, they will be fired... Nobody will accept these conditions.”
“The private sector should facilitate their integration into the job market,” he said. “The kind of conditions now imposed on them makes things difficult for them at the workplace. In the past, Saudis worked only in the public sector. They would work four hours a day, five days a week, and God only knows if they worked at all. Now, you are asking them to work in the private sector. They are being told to work for 48 hours instead of 35 a week; they have to work not one shift, but two shifts. They are told that if they take leave other than the two-week annual leave, they will be fired... Nobody will accept these conditions.”
Now what you clearly doing here is trying to broker private sector for laxed working conditions for Saudis. While hard work is appreciated there is no point brokering leniency for lazy asses. Lazy people are lazy people at the end of the day and if they cant work for eight hours a day then no business is going to keep them.
The labor minister emphasized there was no magic solution to the current problem. “If the private sector does not provide enough incentives to our youth then we will not succeed,” Al-Gosaibi said. “We have to close the gap between what the public sector provides and what the private sector provides in terms of job security, salaries, number of work hours, etc. If the private sector provides the same kind of incentives as the public sector, will our youth run away? No.”
The labor minister emphasized there was no magic solution to the current problem. “If the private sector does not provide enough incentives to our youth then we will not succeed,” Al-Gosaibi said. “We have to close the gap between what the public sector provides and what the private sector provides in terms of job security, salaries, number of work hours, etc. If the private sector provides the same kind of incentives as the public sector, will our youth run away? No.”
There is a difference between incentives and catering to the lazy asses. If your understanding of "incentives" means letting Saudis spend 4 hours in office browsing Internet and skipping rest of the four then sorry to say its not acceptable to businesses.
Al-Gosaibi hailed Saudi Aramco and SABIC for their Saudization successes. “They stay there and grow there because they get the kind of incentives that are not available anywhere else,” the labor minister said of the young Saudis working in both companies. “Please don’t be critical of our youth. Don’t mistrust them. They want to lead a decent and honorable life. And when I am talking about youth, I mean both men and women.”
Al-Gosaibi hailed Saudi Aramco and SABIC for their Saudization successes. “They stay there and grow there because they get the kind of incentives that are not available anywhere else,” the labor minister said of the young Saudis working in both companies. “Please don’t be critical of our youth. Don’t mistrust them. They want to lead a decent and honorable life. And when I am talking about youth, I mean both men and women.”
Ofcourse there is qualified Saudi workforce but very few business who can afford to pay in gold biscuits can afford to hire them.
‘Look at the Silver Lining’
Its seems corroded already!
‘Look at the Silver Lining’
Its seems corroded already!
The media is simply focusing on reality and the fact is that ratio between success and failure is 1:10 so obviously majority dominates.
The minister said Saudis should remember their history as global leaders — and their faith. “First of all, we should believe in God Almighty and then we should have full trust and confidence in ourselves, in our nation, in our youth and in our daughters,” Al-Gosaibi said. “This is the region of the Two Holy Mosques. It is from here that thousands spread out to extend the message of Islam. We are their offspring; we are their children. Never forget our heritage. We are not a marginal civilization coming from the jungles of Amazon. We are a nation that has for more than 800 years led the world in everything — in intellect, in science and in technology. We have been through difficult times. There have been ups and downs but, by the grace of God, we have the capacity; we have the hope and the aspiration to return to our past glory — and we will.”
The minister said Saudis should remember their history as global leaders — and their faith. “First of all, we should believe in God Almighty and then we should have full trust and confidence in ourselves, in our nation, in our youth and in our daughters,” Al-Gosaibi said. “This is the region of the Two Holy Mosques. It is from here that thousands spread out to extend the message of Islam. We are their offspring; we are their children. Never forget our heritage. We are not a marginal civilization coming from the jungles of Amazon. We are a nation that has for more than 800 years led the world in everything — in intellect, in science and in technology. We have been through difficult times. There have been ups and downs but, by the grace of God, we have the capacity; we have the hope and the aspiration to return to our past glory — and we will.”
So what is Saudi history really??? Lets see..slave trading, tribal warfare, religious idiocy, oppression, exploitation of other humans, slavery, robbery, looting, gang rapes and more recently sponsoring religious terrorism. Referring to others as "marginal civilization coming from jungles of Amazon" is true representation of typical "I am better than everyone" mentality found among the Saudis whether be elite or beggar. Now let me educate you Mr.Minister, there is a difference between Islamic civilization dominating the world for 800 years and Saudis as a nation. Islamic civilization has been for 1400 years ago where as Saudis came into being less than 100 years ago so I don't understand this "leading the world for 800 years" neither does anyone capable to do simple maths and Google search. The only "marginal civilization from nomad desserts" on this earth is you the Saudis who are only worth for the oil they can provide.
More Opportunities for Women
Al-Gosaibi said more opportunities are being created for women in the labor market, but successful social reforms will require dialogue and consensus.
“Slowly but surely, we are making progress,” he said. “In the past, the public sector absorbed 90 percent of the women, especially as school teachers and 10 percent as social advisers. When the public sector filled up... that is when the demand for opening the private sector to women came up. We are implementing these women-specific projects in stages, and we are achieving success. The issue of segregation will not change overnight. In fact, if we try to change things forcefully, then that may complicate matters. It is my wish that we work together and work within the system.”
More Opportunities for Women
Al-Gosaibi said more opportunities are being created for women in the labor market, but successful social reforms will require dialogue and consensus.
“Slowly but surely, we are making progress,” he said. “In the past, the public sector absorbed 90 percent of the women, especially as school teachers and 10 percent as social advisers. When the public sector filled up... that is when the demand for opening the private sector to women came up. We are implementing these women-specific projects in stages, and we are achieving success. The issue of segregation will not change overnight. In fact, if we try to change things forcefully, then that may complicate matters. It is my wish that we work together and work within the system.”
Excuse me but the "Al-Saud & Mutaween" alliance always formulated policies of keep women at home as baby producing machines. The offical rules and regulation of Saudi Arabia strictly bar women from working. So your statement stands to nothing but mindless propaganda.
Al-Gosaibi said there needed to be clear communication between the ministries and the private sector for Saudization to succeed. “The basic duty of ministers is to engage in dialogue with all members of society, but on many occasions this dialogue was between deaf people. We didn’t listen to each other. We, in the ministry, were talking about Saudization, and the other party would say ‘visas, visas.’ We didn’t listen to each other. That was not dialogue. Now when companies talk about Saudization, I tell them to talk about their plans and then we shall listen to their request for visas.”
Al-Gosaibi said there needed to be clear communication between the ministries and the private sector for Saudization to succeed. “The basic duty of ministers is to engage in dialogue with all members of society, but on many occasions this dialogue was between deaf people. We didn’t listen to each other. We, in the ministry, were talking about Saudization, and the other party would say ‘visas, visas.’ We didn’t listen to each other. That was not dialogue. Now when companies talk about Saudization, I tell them to talk about their plans and then we shall listen to their request for visas.”
Well they chant visas because that is what works for them. Saudization is just an added tax with comes with it. The business want to get start fast with the right workforce as well retain the workforce on low wages which through your "Kefala" system is very well augmented. If there was freedom of employment to foreigner, these employers will not be able to lock-down employees hence forced to pay worthy wages as per market rate which will automatically attract the citizens to take up jobs.
Later, when fielding questions from the audience, a hearing-impaired man asked why special needs workers had it so rough, noting that employers were often unwilling to accommodate them, Al-Gosaibi announced from the podium that henceforth, employing one special-needs Saudi worker would count as four workers in Saudization targets. (Earlier, employing one special-needs worker would count as two.)
Later, when fielding questions from the audience, a hearing-impaired man asked why special needs workers had it so rough, noting that employers were often unwilling to accommodate them, Al-Gosaibi announced from the podium that henceforth, employing one special-needs Saudi worker would count as four workers in Saudization targets. (Earlier, employing one special-needs worker would count as two.)
This is further relaxation in Saudization quota speaks for itself. No explanation needed!
Citing 2007 employment figures, he said, “We brought 1.8 million expatriates into the country. This is the highest number in decades. Since I took over, there has been no increase in Saudization. Actually, we have reduced Saudization in most sectors.”
Citing 2007 employment figures, he said, “We brought 1.8 million expatriates into the country. This is the highest number in decades. Since I took over, there has been no increase in Saudization. Actually, we have reduced Saudization in most sectors.”
So despite your efforts you admit your failure as the biggest influx of foreign workers has landed in the country during year 2007 breaking all records. You see common sense states that something is wrong here despite all your pleas. Because Saudis don't wanna work hard and private sector doesn't want to cut working hours to 4 a day. So the situation becomes locked and for the sake of economy, your ministry cant help it further than decreasing saudization quota and issuing more visas.
All Saudi businesses should consider the government’s expectations, he added. “My doors are open to businessmen. Come to me with your plans. I am only asking for 10 percent commission,” Al-Gosaibi said. “You want 500 visas for expatriates then 50 should be Saudis. One thousand visas - 100 Saudis, and that is all.”
All Saudi businesses should consider the government’s expectations, he added. “My doors are open to businessmen. Come to me with your plans. I am only asking for 10 percent commission,” Al-Gosaibi said. “You want 500 visas for expatriates then 50 should be Saudis. One thousand visas - 100 Saudis, and that is all.”
Yeah and the government expect a bunch of lazy asses employed over hardworking people is a sales commission like scheme where they leech on company profit as a "privilege" of their nationality not skills.
