Nitaqat
Nitaqat (Ranges) is a new measurement mechanism which will be used by the ministry of Labor, a “saher” for businesses… and a long overdue initiative.
It is sad that the employment of natives, is looking more like affirmative action than actually employing and empowering the local community, and having been a job seeker only a few months ago, the picture is scary.
It is scary because I was turned down for jobs because I was “old”, I was also turned down because I was overqualified, and some bluntly told me “we cannot really pay you what you are worth” because we use workers from out of Saudi for a fraction of what we might pay you , this and they did not even offer me a number to accept or refuse.
It sounds funny because employers always tell fresh graduates that they need experience.
The Saudi Economy
While Saudi Banks continue to be the some of the most profitable banks, since they charge interest on loans while never paying interest to account holders, and Saudi businesses being profitable because they can use the cheapest labor (kind of like outsourcing, by bringing the laborers in instead of opening a factory where labor is cheap) and little enforcement from the government, some business men and women can do whatever they want.
In the USA “The rich hated paying better wages and providing benefits. They hated paying taxes even more. And they despised unions. The right-wing Christians hated anything that sounded like socialism or holding out a helping hand to minorities or women.” (source) then in Saudi it is almost the same… change the right-wing Christians though.
Government Actions
So when King Abdullah declared his royal decrees back when he came from his medical trip, all I could think about is that the government is indirectly bailing out the private sector. Private investors make land and home prices unaffordable, the King builds homes for the nation, banks provide loans with high interest rates, the king gives interest free loans to the nation, and so on and so forth.
I do not understand how this is different that the saudization quota currently in place, only that is requires more movement of labor, could this initiative be the fruits of labor minister Adel Faqih? Or just another system that only lives on paper?
Comments
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Sep 11, 2011 @ 01:16:11
So sorry to read of your struggle finding a job.
Sep 11, 2011 @ 08:42:03
Susanne, thanks, but I did not struggle, I found a good job with a good company in what is considered record time, and in light of the global economic situation, I have nothing to complain about
I was just sharing… if they said that to me, what on earth are they saying to the others.
Thanks again
Sep 11, 2011 @ 15:19:09
Oh good! Sorry I misunderstood. Hey, I’m glad to be wrong about these things!
Sep 11, 2011 @ 15:52:22
I am glad u r wrong about that also
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