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Gulf Arabs 'lazy' and 'spoilt', blasts minister
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 28 January 2008Posted on Saturday, 20 June 2009
INDIA!!!
Posted by NAB at 04:41 UAE time
Mr. Rajendra, I am sick and tired of hearing this age old rant from Indians that India is becoming a super power very soon. And trust me i have been hearing from your mouths for the last thirty years!!
You are not even a power let alone a super power. 75% of Indians earn less than 2$ a day. YES 75% T AS FOR INDIA BECOMING A ECONOMIC POWER, THIS IS MUCH MUCH FAR FROM REALITY!
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Posted on Saturday, 21 March 2009
a just future
Posted by orteleus at 20:44 UAE time
My self-imposed imprisonment ends soon in Bahrain. I have spent nearly a year sorrounded by abject displays of laziness and cruelty. I witnessed three grossly overweight Saudi youth demeaning an Indian who was washing their Land Rover by making him wash the same spot repeatedly while they laughed. I saw Indonesian house servants peeking from behind gated compounds which for them had become virtual prisons. I heard Gulf Arabs refer to hardworking Indian construction workers as vermin and rats.
This region is doomed to failure. The world community is moving towards a massive reduction in the use of petro carbons. That reduction means the entire economy of the region will be undercut. Dubai and Bahrain may have diversified into finance and banking but the bedrock of the economy still remains oil.
I leave Bahrain soon and have no intention of ever returning. The only thing that might drag me back to this litter box is the possibility that one day I will see the wealthy corrupt Arabs of this region cleaning the houses of Pakistanis, repairing the highways driven by Philipinos, and serving the Indians in restaurants.
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Posted on Sunday, 3 February 2008
Mr. Rajendra's Optimisim
Posted by Ayesha at 09:59 UAE time
If Mr. Rajendra is so optimistic about the economies of India, China and Brazil. I suggest he pack his bags and leave quickly or stand outside the agent offices in first India (as from there the highest number of expats come to this region) and then China (whose population is also heading to the GCC) to stop migrating given his 10 point solution.
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Posted on Thursday, 31 January 2008
10 TRIGGERS, THE NEW WORLD ORDER!!
Posted by RAJENDRA ANEJA at 12:04 UAE time
In the "disguised" attacks on Indians workers, who help to build many countries, in the Middle East, we must remember the new status and power of India!!
Just last week, the British PM Gordon Brown recently underscored that a New World Order was emerging, and countries like India and China needed more representation in world affairs and a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. He is right. The French President also endorsed Mr. Brown's views.
However, Brazil too is a mighty emerging nation. The New World Order is being triggered by the following 10 variables.
1. Possible recession in USA, hence need for other economies to be energising.
2. Some decline in USA influence, post Iraq war
3. Excellent performance of India, China economies
4. Rise of Indian professionals, globally, 25 million work ion 200 countries.
5. High oil ($100 barrel), gold ($900 ounce) prices
6. Unresolved Middle East issues e.g. Palestine, Iran, Lebanon.
7. Issues in Pakistan, Kenya.
8. Intense world poverty, 2 billion people live on $1 a day
9. Continuance of international terrorism
10. Improvement in Communications, IT, in India/China/Brazil.
In the years to come, it would be wise for nations, to build strong bridges with China, India and Brazil!
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Posted on Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Nationals and expats
Posted by johnboy at 11:58 UAE time
Very good point Hussein! Well said...it's great having 'GCC locals' making themselves heard. The Arab peoples have had a great history of innovation, science, literature and advancement. When my ancestors were still 'ducking witches' and prescribing leeches and bleeding for every medical condition under the sun, in Granada and Baghdad inoculation and vaccination was widespread and Arab astronomers had worked out the circumference of the globe and mapped out our galaxy. However, today's generation of UAE nationals (I have no experience of Saudi Arabia), need to want and work harder to take control of their destiny.
As for subcontinental expats, not all of them work building the Gulf's monuments. Many run the large companies, banks and institutions. But they, and we Westerners should go home and build our own economies (the US and UK are in a shocking state) and be replaced by the people of this region.
But are the people of this region ready, willing and able to step up to the plate? Not many UAE nationals are willing to work until 2AM to finish a piece of work as I frequently do.
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Posted on Tuesday, 29 January 2008
ASIAN TSUNAMI
Posted by immaya at 11:01 UAE time
It is quite inappropriate for a dignified and honourable person like the Labour Minister to give such remarks against a particular group, more so it is contradictory to most of Gulf countries' vision to lead a viable economy through globalisation.
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Hypocrisy
Posted by Bonovox at 08:15 UAE time
This is ridiculous. I think the people who have put comments here should wake up and smell the coffee, including the esteemed Minister. If not for the Asians "specifically" subcontinental Asians, the GCC countries would not have one building to live in. These hard working Asians through blood sweat and toil have from the beginning of time worked for low wages. The Minister should recognize this fact instead of calling us Tsunamis, which is an environmental phenonmenon that has caused many of us untold suffering and I hope, one that you do not have to experience.
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Posted on Monday, 28 January 2008
STOP COMPLAINING....ROOT THE PROBLEM...CHANGE ATTITUDES.
Posted by Hussain M at 17:21 UAE time
First of all I would like to say that statement should have been carefully thought through.
I have been to Bahrain a lot, I have seen Bahrain's women and men working as store clerks, fast food servers, hotel busboys...
Here in KSA, I see many young Saudis working in similar if not lower paid jobs.
I myself wake up every morning at 5:30am, leave Jeddah at around 6am, drive 100km daily to work... and come back home at around 8 pm.
Yes there is a large percentage of people who are lazy... then again 60% of the Gulf's population is under 20 and are still in school. Or out on the streets hopelessly cruising around because they have no meaningful job to go to.
If we are lazy it is not because we want to be.
It is the present leaders who brought up their children believing everything would be handed to them on a golden plate.
It is the minister's generation that brought in labour from the subcontinent.
It is the minister's generation that is responsible for the state of our education system.
You cannot expect a national to earn 800-1500 SR and expect them to believe they are happy and fulfilled in their work and life.
A friend of mine just graduated as a building engineer and is now working with BINLADEN corp. for a monthly sum of 5000sr. He has taken a stance where he claims... "I am not paid well enough for my job - so why do it well?
The system is unfair - a graduate from, let's say Lebanon, earns 7 to 8000 SR for the same role.
A Greek acquaintance gets paid 11,000 sr to supervise the watering of flowers in a big firm. A local would be paid 2000.
The minister should note - no matter how hard GCC nationals work, we will never be as appreciated or as well paid as nationals from the US, Canada...
If you are looking for someone to blame for this, kindly blame your generation. You guided us to this point.
This comment is brought to you by a pissed off SAUDI engineer in the middle of nowhere, taking part in a MEGA project, who began working in part time jobs at the age of 14.
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Asian economies
Posted by Ayesha at 17:09 UAE time
Asian economies are doing much better than most Western economies are. Lets go back and work where we are treated as first class citizens - and not an 'atomic bomb or an attack by Israel'.
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Results are hard to achieve under localication projects
Posted by Ian at 16:27 UAE time
The Minister's comments were no surprise, but the fact that he made the statment at all was quite surprising. I think everyone is aware of this problem but a remedy is difficult. During my career, I have coached and developed my staff in order to provide benefit for them as individuals and also, of course, for the benefit of the business. I have achieved success with individuals both back home in UK and in this region. However, the amount of time I have had to spend with members of my staff in order to achieve results is certainly more than I would back home. During the years I spent in Saudi, I had success with young saudi guys under the localisation drive, but they certainly expected having everything handed to them on a plate initially. The problem is that many experienced managers do not have the time to spend hour after hour on one-to-one coaching sessions with their local (and expatriate staff). However, that is what is required. I think my bigggest achievement was to get a Saudi Trainee Manager to sweep a warehouse floor during his first week in the post. He certainly could not understand why he was being asked to do that, but I explained that one day he would have to achieve aims through his own staff. If he understood the equipment, resource and skills required to undertake the tasks then he would be far better placed to be able to manage. He did sweep the floor, but it took a long time spent on one-to-one coaching sessions to explain aspects such as this. In short, developing locals can be achievable, but there is an underlying absence of work ethic that makes this a difficult and time-consuming activity. Hence the fact, people don't want to recruit them. Sad, but unfortunatley true.
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Spoilt & Lazy -- they were , but it's changing
Posted by Harry at 15:43 UAE time
I have served in the Gulf for nearly 22 years and have seen and borne (the brunt) of the Arabs ..... Owners and ordinary men .... likewise!
But for sure, while I was in Bahrain, I saw much changes for the better... non-stop. I hope the momentum keeps on increasing and most of the Arabs come to understand the real meaning of life .....
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Lazy & Spoiled
Posted by Johnboy at 13:52 UAE time
At last someone has said it. Yes, the locals, or many of them in the GCC are lazy and spoiled. The same could be said for Western expats, who are here just here as mercenaries. If the governments of the region continue to pamper the local populations there is no incentive for them to go out and make their own way in the world. The GCC governments raising public sector wages by such huge amounts, and then being surprised why the local population does not want to go and work in the private sector is unbelievable. Take away the handouts, the preferential treatment, and get the local populations to use some initiative. Educate the local population so that they can take that expat job in management by merit, not by nationality and actually build this region on the backs of its people. There are local Arabs who are inspirational leaders, great innovators and have a hard work attitude and the will to succeed. Sadly these individuals are the exception to the rule. When you have a local job applicant coming to my company and saying: "I am Emirati, I have the right to succeed" it really says it all. No one has the right to anything.
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I don't believe on this article.
Posted by jigzzou at 13:33 UAE time
Everywhere you can find lazy and spoilt people, even in my country (I am an Asian national). To single-out one people is not acceptable. I've been working here in Saudi Arabia for two decades and the majority of Saudi people give 100% performance to improve their standards of living. Education and training are there primary foundation for their success.
His Excellency should not say Asian country sub-continent workers are, "a danger worse than atomic bomb or an Israeli attack". I do respect his judgment; nevertheless, this should be corrected.
I believe that due to the manpower needs of a strong economy expatriates are necessary.
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Unfair
Posted by Rainigade at 12:56 UAE time
Lazy and spoilt? Its not just the Gulf Arabs but also expats in better economic brackets. Sorry to say, but it is part of the allure of this region; this bubble of luxury that one can afford to live in. Bad enough the cost of living is virtually impossible to manage, now the standard of living is going to lose its charm too?
As for the so-called "asian tsunami" - I think the esteemed minister is a bit late in recognising this phenomenon. Look around you, sir - its already happened.
This asian tsunami is the backbone of most gulf countries. Banning them will just weaken that spine. Somehow, I dont see rich Gulf Arabs changing their minds overnight just because there are fewer labourers.
Education is the key! The younger generations must be taught well and a different mindset will have to be cultivated, so that they would consider all jobs with dignity and pride.
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Gulf Arabs Lazy & Spoilt
Posted by Lee at 12:14 UAE time
In general I don't have a problem with what the Minister has said. I have worked in many Gulf countries including Bahrain. I know how lazy local employees can be when they get to work. Some clock in then they need a smoke break, then they need to eat, then their stomach hurts so they need to go to the restroom.....any excuse to not actually do the work! But the minister's comments do not describe all Gulf Arabs. I know many who work extremely long hours. Even some wealthy individuals that I know work very hard to keep their businesses going. But who was working in restaurants and doing the manual labor jobs 30 or 40 years ago? Asian expats? I don't think so. Somewhere along the way many Gulf countries allowed their people to become lazy by supporting them and giving them money for nothing. Restricting the number of expats or their length of service is not the solution.
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