31 October 2013
The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) has called for new legislation that would give it powers to oversee the work of engineers in the country.
It has also described the government's tender process as "messy." Contracts were going to the lowest bidders, resulting in substandard work, it said.
Hamad Al-Shaqawi, head of the SCE, said only 2.5 percent of the engineering firms on giant projects are local consultancies, or 4,000 offices. He said there was a need to train Saudis to replace skilled foreigners.
Al-Shaqawi said the SCE wants the power to act against poor-performing firms. "The council does not have the tools or power to act." He said the Shoura Council was still considering recommendations of SCE submitted six years ago for more powers.
Al-Shaqawi said he has criticized some municipalities because they have not been effective at stopping fake engineers from winning contracts. He said the SCE recently discovered people working with forged certificates.
He said that municipalities should not award contracts to the lowest bidders because this forces firms to hire unqualified engineers. He said bids are often so low that the money does not cover the salary of one engineer with five years' experience.
He admitted that some of the reports submitted by consultancies are inconsistent with realities on the ground. This did not mean that engineers want to cheat. "This happens because the engineer is not able to write a clear and correct report."
He said many Saudi engineers working in the Kingdom have certificates, but know nothing about engineering. "We cannot assess and evaluate the work of an engineer unless the system for practicing the profession is approved and applied. This system will allow us to grant licenses after engineers pass several competency tests," he said.
The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) has called for new legislation that would give it powers to oversee the work of engineers in the country.
It has also described the government's tender process as "messy." Contracts were going to the lowest bidders, resulting in substandard work, it said.
Hamad Al-Shaqawi, head of the SCE, said only 2.5 percent of the engineering firms on giant projects are local consultancies, or 4,000 offices. He said there was a need to train Saudis to replace skilled foreigners.
Al-Shaqawi said the SCE wants the power to act against poor-performing firms. "The council does not have the tools or power to act." He said the Shoura Council was still considering recommendations of SCE submitted six years ago for more powers.
Al-Shaqawi said he has criticized some municipalities because they have not been effective at stopping fake engineers from winning contracts. He said the SCE recently discovered people working with forged certificates.
He said that municipalities should not award contracts to the lowest bidders because this forces firms to hire unqualified engineers. He said bids are often so low that the money does not cover the salary of one engineer with five years' experience.
He admitted that some of the reports submitted by consultancies are inconsistent with realities on the ground. This did not mean that engineers want to cheat. "This happens because the engineer is not able to write a clear and correct report."
He said many Saudi engineers working in the Kingdom have certificates, but know nothing about engineering. "We cannot assess and evaluate the work of an engineer unless the system for practicing the profession is approved and applied. This system will allow us to grant licenses after engineers pass several competency tests," he said.
© Arab News 2013
