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By IBRAHIM NAFFEE
JEDDAH: GCC labor and social development ministers have approved a plan to set up a Gulf team to boost job opportunities for Gulf citizens and review the available chances in regional markets.
At the same time, the ministers agreed on implementing a joint Gulf market as part of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman’s vision.
Labor and Social Development Minister Mufrej Al-Haqabani confirmed on Wednesday that GCC ministers will work as a single unified team to enhance job opportunities in GCC states and open the door to move GCC citizens among the countries for work.
He spoke after the conclusion of the meeting of the GCC ministers of labor and social development in Riyadh.
Economic experts expected that joint labor market will play a significant role to resolve unemployment in GCC countries.
Several construction firms in GCC states, especially the UAE and Qatar, are hiring expatriate workers who have benefited from high spending on infrastructure projects in GCC cities.
At the same time, several cities in the UAE have benefited from the existence of these laborers-in-limbo, thanks to the huge, pending infrastructural mega projects and a shortage in manpower.
Several firms in Qatar and the UAE are interested in hiring skilled and experienced expatriate workers who have spent many years in the Kingdom. Qatar has huge financial wealth, but faces a labor shortage due to its small population.
Saleh Al-Agla, economics professor at Um Al-Qura University in Makkah, said many companies in GCC countries are interested in hiring foreigners because of their expertise and qualifications.
A unified policy for Gulf job employment may raise job opportunities for Saudis, he pointed out.
He said Saudis could work for high salaries at private sector firms in GCC countries.
At the same time, Saudis have obtained advanced qualifications from scholarship programs in Western universities.
© Arab News 2016
