I am writing in response to several articles, including that of Mr. Tariq Al-Maeena, that expatriate workers should not be taken for granted. I had lived in Saudi Arabia for 30 years and had my own share of painful and good experiences while working as an administrative staff. In my view what is required in the approach toward expatriate workers is that they should be respected. I found this aspect missing to a great extent. During the stay there, I noted that many people treated expatriate workers, particularly Asians, often with contempt. It was – and is – degrading. Arab workers can manage well because they can speak Arabic. But many Asian workers, especially those who are new in the country, have this handicap. For instance, Asians are sometimes addressed as “Rafiq", which is very demeaning. The saving grace is that there are many sectors in Saudi society that understand the importance of expatriate labor and express their appreciation. This attitude is very encouraging and gratifying. Mohammed Abdul Aleem, Hyderabad, India
