By SIRAJ WAHAB | ARAB NEWS
Published: Aug 15, 2011 00:13 Updated: Aug 15, 2011 00:15
DAMMAM: A senior Pakistani executive has welcomed Labor Minister Adel Fakeih's Nitaqat initiative to streamline the chaotic Saudi labor market.
Responding to the minister's exclusive interview in Saturday's Arab News, Alkhobar-based Ground Engineering Construction's General Manager Parvez Naushahi said: “This is a unique country in that there are citizens of nearly 80 countries engaged in gainful employment here. This market has needed streamlining for a long time, and Nitaqat is expected to do just that.”
He said he has read in detail the many aspects of the new job nationalization program. “They are as detailed as the minister's responses to the questions from Arab News in the interview. The entire team behind the Nitaqat program has done a very meticulous job; it has taken into account every single labor issue and has come up with a practical and doable solution,” he said.
Naushahi, however, cautioned that despite all the homework, there might still be areas that will need rethinking as the government goes about implementing the new program.
“No system can be 100 percent. All these laws and guidelines are formulated by human beings and there is always a possibility of error and a room for improvement. However, as far as I am concerned I am totally convinced that this will yield very positive results,” he said.
He said it is the responsibility of every government to meet the needs of its citizens. “When there is so much unemployment among Saudis, then their government had to act and it did so in the best interests of its nationals. Every country in the world has its rules and regulations. These are the rules of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi private sector and the expatriate community will have to meet their obligations. It is that simple,” he said.
Naushahi felt that the labor market was rather haphazard. “The Saudization rules were sketchy before. Now they are crystal clear. Everything is in black and white. Plus, different categories of companies have different Saudization quotas. As the minister very rightly pointed out, it is a very dynamic program; one that will change with changing needs.”
He said his company has met all Saudization targets.
“It is the duty of one and all to get young Saudis into the labor market and to make them job savvy. The pressure will now be on young Saudis. They will no longer have the excuse that there are no jobs and that the government has not done enough for them. They will have to deliver now; they will have to demonstrate their commitment toward their jobs.”
According to Naushahi, the minister has clearly indicated that private sector companies should not complain about the large presence of unqualified Saudis. “Employ them first and they will automatically get hands-on experience and will then become eminently qualified for all job categories,” he said.
“This is the best piece of advice from the minister.”
