The problem has become chronic over the years, but we can still solve it
If you start a conversation about unemployment within Saudi Arabia, you are likely to get a variety of viewpoints and opinions that may surprise you or at least contradict your perception of the problem.
Some people still believe there is no unemployment and jobs are available for anyone who is keen to get one. They see unemployment as a "luxury" for some young Saudis who have neither the qualifications nor the inclination to accept job offers or continue in their positions.
Other people believe that it is the private sector and the businessmen that are unwilling to employ Saudis. They cite a number of reasons for this, foremost of which is the attraction of employing foreign hands to do more work at less pay. The main concern of the private sector and the businessmen is to increase profits for their shareholders without any regard for the citizens of this country, which is the main source of the wealth they have accumulated. Between these two opposing opinions, let us see if there are other issues on which at least many of us can agree. First of all, when young Saudis prepare to enter into the job market, they will find themselves in sharp competition with foreign workers who have come from both East and West. I do not think that there is any disagreement on the fact that there are millions of foreign workers in our country. It is not necessary here to state their exact number whether it is four, eight or 12 million or less or more. Whatever, there are millions from other countries competing with the Saudi citizens for the available jobs. Whether we agree or disagree, this situation is a fact of life that cannot be denied. We also cannot deny that the result of this situation is fewer jobs for Saudis. There are some activities entirely dominated by foreigners. This situation is our own making; it is our recruitment regulations that gave the foreign workers the entry visas and allow them to stay among us for long years.
Secondly, when a Saudi enters the labor market, he or she starts as a graduate of the worst system of education in the world. In most studies I have examined, the general education in Saudi Arabia ranks last or next to last among all educational systems in the world. This is not in comparison to the standard of education in the industrialized countries but in the world at large including Communist and African nations. I do not think there is any disagreement about the low standard of our educational system -- even the officials in charge of education admit it.
As for university specializations, it is enough to say that there is no need in the market for the 250,000 graduates of our universities every year, particularly the arts students. As for the vocational training, there is no better comment than to say that at present there is no future for Saudis in any of the vocational jobs. This is also the current reality.
Regardless of our opinions about vocational education, we have to admit that it does not qualify our youth for the labor market. This situation is also our own making. Hundreds of billions of riyals was spent on vocational training institutes and universities, and the result is what we see now.
Finally come the businessmen and the private companies and establishments that are capable of exploiting foreign workers, subjecting them to the most difficult conditions and using them at the absolute minimum cost without paying any taxes, fees or social insurance. In contrast, the employment of Saudi laborers would subject these companies to a tough regulatory system, which generally sides with Saudi workers. In addition to higher salaries, the companies have to pay monthly social insurance for Saudis. Saudis can quit at any time without regard for the employer's interests. Companies cannot fire Saudis even if there is no need of them or if their performance is substandard; otherwise they will be questioned by the labor offices or possibly courts. Again whether we support or oppose this situation, it is a real fact and it is of our own making. It is us who issued the recruitment regulations that make it easy to bring foreign manpower.
So as you see, unemployment has not come to us out of the blue. It was not due to meager resources. On the contrary, Allah has blessed us with immense resources and great wealth. It is no secret to say that our strong economy can employ millions -- not only the hundreds of thousands of Saudis who are now unemployed. The recruitment regulations, the educational system, the training institutes and the employment of foreign manpower are the real reasons behind the high rate of unemployment in our country.
All these reasons and factors are of our own making; therefore, it is not surprising that unemployment will continue as long as these reasons remain in place. The results will not change if we do not change the causes.
So in order to combat unemployment, we have first to combat the exploitation of the recruitment rules. We have to thoroughly review these rules and make appropriate changes. We should also revise labor laws to facilitate jobs for Saudi workers and level the playing field for employers. We should review the curricula of technical and vocational-training institutes to make them compatible with the requirements of the labor market. We have to focus on training Saudis so as to make the Saudization of jobs an enhancement of our economy -- not a burden on it.
Although the problem of unemployment has become chronic over the years, I am a strong believer that its eradication is not an impossible task; on the contrary, it is impossible for us to continue this situation. The growth of unemployment at these rates will have adverse consequences difficult for any economy to bear. Considering the continued growth of our population, there will never be a better time to address these issues than now.
© Arab News 2011
