23 July 2017

An annual family reunion of the workers with their loved ones back home is a small price to pay for the sacrifices they undergo in helping build our societies

By Tariq A. Al Maeena, Special to Gulf News

The Gulf Cooperation Council is home to a large number of expatriate workers who have come to these lands in search of fame and fortune. While a few have struck it rich, the majority are finding themselves just getting by. At least that is what the semi-skilled and unskilled class of workers face in the wake of rising prices and in the case of Saudi Arabia, monthly taxation of their dependents.

This recent act of issuing a dependent levy has caused an exodus of members from families that are not able to afford the additional annual fees, leaving behind the head of the household or breadwinner to eke out a living and remit them his or her earnings. The government’s decision to tax the dependent has come under fire primarily from businesses who are finding it difficult to maintain their expat staff and trying to avoid disrupting their operations. For now, it’s going to be a singular member of an expatriate household who is left behind to provide sustenance for the family.

Now in a country such as Saudi Arabia, where a third of the population comprises much-needed expatriate workers, it is essential that laws are implemented to protect and enhance the rights and well-being of the expatriate workforce.

While salaries and other benefits usually fall within standard norms, the issue of annual vacations to most semi-skilled and unskilled workers is a sore point, a benefit that seems to be missing from their standard work contract.

Abdunnaser Odungat, an expatriate worker who has been in the Kingdom for some time, brought up this glaring deficiency in the standard worker’s contract. He contends that as human beings, we may survive an average of 60-70 years in a healthy state. Many expats, especially Asians, have been working and living in the GCC countries for an average of 20-25 years and some even more. Incredibly, a vast majority of them live on a bachelor status, away from home and family.

Odungat adds that for those workers, “Half of the lifetime away from home and family; seeing their children grow, meeting parents and friends ... only once in two years and sometimes once in three years!”

The age of servitude or similar practices have been eradicated from much of the civilised world. Several world bodies, including Saudi Arabia, are continuously planning and implementing steps to ensure the improvement of human rights and values. The well-being of our guest workers also falls within this domain.

So, we have to think and consider everything in a humane manner. We should not create a situation where any expatriate employee is forced to stay here for more than a year without a break. The employers should let their employees go home for at least a month every year. It should not be allowed to be postponed and must be made mandatory. Some people may hesitate go home even when provided with an opportunity, but that does not necessarily mean they are not missing their loved ones. Sometimes circumstances, both at home and at the country where they are employed, compel them to postpone their vacation.

Odungat believes that this has become a normal phenomenon in GCC countries. He says, “As a cultured society, this situation (children living as ‘orphans’, wives as ‘widows’) cannot be tolerated. These people should have the chance to be with their loved ones at least once a year. Those businesses/employers who cannot afford to add such a clause in their employees’ contracts should not hire employees from outside.”

People’s willingness to accept unnecessary hardships due to circumstances or the host country being unaware of the wellness or welfare needs of their residents should not be a justification to not care for these points of human concern.

The aviation industry has grown very competitive and prices are very cheap during lean seasons. Taking advantage of cheap tickets, most companies and even individuals employing expatriates should be able to provide a return ticket annually to their employees without much of a financial burden.

In view of more families settling back in their homelands, this issue of annual paid holidays should be made a mandatory clause in workers’ contracts. The rewards will reflect in the energised contributions of a happy employee.

Just as Saudis connect with their families on a regular basis, let them at least make it possible for their guest workers to also connect with their loved ones annually. An annual family reunion of the workers with their loved ones is a small price to pay for the sacrifices they undergo in helping build our societies

Tariq A. Al Maeena is a Saudi socio-political commentator. He lives in Jeddah. You can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@talmaeena.

© Gulf News 2017