Expats to blame for Saudi unemployment

Posted by: Expat in Riyadh Tuesday, 29 April 2008 3:29 PM[UAE] - KSA

The company I work for has literally thousands of vacancies, however labour turnover rates among Saudi staff is shocking, for example 78% of Saudi new joiners leave within 3 months.

Posted by: Gabrielle Harwood Monday, 21 April 2008 8:12 AM[UAE] - UK

Having spent many years in Saudi Arabia including during its expat workers' height, the fact is that the huge number was dictated by the massive infrastructure build created by the series of 5 year plans. Unfortunately, although schools were also built not enough focus was given to updating education and preparing the work force of the future. While there were so many others to do the work for them a generation grew up spoiled and unready for their adult task. Knowing several University lecturers who were pressured into passing `would be failed' candidates, the average Saudi `degree' was once held to value little more than a UK GCSE. As this generation came on line in the Saudisation program employers, expat and Saudi alike, discovered that there was little work ethic and unwillingness to do anything other than `be' for example a top executive. When the employment dwindled, pressure was applied by the government to take so many Saudis per company. When so often a young Saudi might work for a day or two and then just turn up for his salary (or not at all), naturally employers were unhappy. In order to encourage emloyers a low rate of pay was suggested and so Saudis who do seek regular work are likely to be paid less than their ex pat colleagues. So, who will keep the machinery grinding on except the expats? It is a sad situation but one in which in which the Saudi government must take their responsibility. Perhaps even more sad, unlike the U.A.E., there is not much evidence now of the glorious infrastructure dream which fostered the situation in the first place.

Posted by: Vishal Monday, 7 April 2008 11:21 AM[UAE] - UAE

Enough said...Better the blame the companies who don't hire Saudi Nationals due to their wage demands...

Posted by: Anil Kumar Monday, 7 April 2008 9:17 AM[UAE] - USA

What Saudi needs to think is that its nationals should be ready to do the work expats are ready to do. Lot of them argue we are paying monies for that service - Well if that is the case why is the Saudi nationals not accepting that work. Saudi government should take drastic step to correct the unemployment ratios - it should first make it that it employ nobody in the main areas like Gov, Security Forces, Police forces except Saudi Nationals - not even arab nationals should be employed - exactly like all other countries in the world do - and then move on to the govt owned companies- Private organizations always should have the freedom employ locally and post expats - Because they drive business and there responsibility most of the time are not social help. However, when they drive business they indirectly drive revenues and services for the country where local population are employed. When this happens they will automatically oblige for social support also, this will also attract Saudi nationals to work for them. There should be tax holidays and subsidies for companies which have saudi workforce and thus these companies also will then derive the benefit.