Crown Prince, Kuwaiti prime minister discuss strengthening bilateral ties in NEOM    911 emergency centers handle over 2.7 million calls in July    Civil Affairs proposes amendment to death reporting rules for resident expatriates    Commemorative stamp issued honoring Prince Khalid Al-Faisal    Saudi central bank submits new banking draft law to legislative authorities    Saudi report shows 97.7% of businesses have internet access, 57.7% use social media    Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors and alfanar partner to deliver seamless home EV charging solutions across Saudi Arabia Powering the future of mobility    Ministry launches Non-Profit Precious Metals and Gemstones Association to boost industry    Netanyahu asks Red Cross to help hostages in Gaza, as families warn against an 'expanding war'    Poland extends border controls with Germany, Lithuania until October 4 over migration concerns    New Zealand woman arrested after two-year-old found in luggage    Al Qadsiah sign Saudi starlet Musab Al Juwayr from Al Hilal    Salm Al-Dawsari returns to Al Hilal training after injury layoff    Pakistan monsoon death toll rises to 299, including 140 children    Saudi defender Saud Abdulhamid joins RC Lens on loan from AS Roma    Riyadh Comedy Festival tickets now on sale for world's biggest stand-up event    Sotheby's returns Buddha jewels to India after uproar    Riyadh Film Music Festival returns with live orchestral performances of iconic movie scores    Nissan Formula E Team celebrates a landmark season 11 with proud Saudi sponsor Electromin    Saudi Arabia approves first Alzheimer's treatment with lecanemab for early-stage patients    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



The post amnesty scenario
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 23 - 11 - 2013


Ameera Kashgary
Okaz
Last Sunday was not a usual day as far as the roads and streets in Jeddah, from north to south, were concerned. I had no doubt that there was something unusual going on. Jeddah is a city known for its traffic jams and busy streets round the clock, so it was unbelievable that the city had been changed into a quiet oasis with a significant fall in the number of vehicles and pedestrians. Moreover, this has been the case over the last several days since the launch of the national crackdown on illegal expatriates.
How did this change take place in such record time? How was it possible to finish a trip in 10 minutes that normally takes half an hour? Can we assume that the status correction campaign led to reducing the number of vehicles on the roads by more than half? Are we to believe that such a significant number of people vanished from the streets of Jeddah only because of this campaign?
Women who used to complain when their drivers got stuck on busy and congested streets have now stopped complaining about such difficulties. Saudi businesswomen are now airing their grievances about the shortage of Saudi female workers and the legal limitations preventing them from employing non-Saudi women. Saudi women are still uncertain whether or not the campaign has been useful. At least they have their comfort and freedom while traveling inside the city.
However, I am a little confused about this scenario. Was it wrong to think that the correction campaign would put an end to the problems that have accumulated over the decades? There is no doubt that the campaign also has to tackle problems caused by the failure to implement a number of labor laws. Likewise, it is not possible for us to find a quick resolution to the labor crisis and the departure of workers. But as a civil society, it is essential for us to abide by the law of the land and work for implementing it in a just and transparent manner.
The correction campaign has unveiled something negative and we have to address it and take legal action to eliminate it. We must fight the hostile, racist mentality that was unearthed when some citizens attacked illegal expatriates and engaged in unlawful practices in the name of the nation.
Despite some setbacks, there is evidence that shows there has been an increase in the awareness level of citizens and foreigners with regard to abiding by the law. We have reached this point because the authorities have been determined to strictly enforce the law. Even though there were some chaotic scenes at the time the campaign was launched, it is clear now that Saudi society is fully determined to embrace the new change.
Finally, there is no doubt that the nation has the most to gain from this campaign. Citizens are beneficiaries of the campaign as it has helped them realize the new implications of work culture and its values. Legal expatriates can also benefit as they can take advantage of the better competitive environment in the more organized and regulated employment market where their rights will be protected.
I look forward to a tomorrow where there are more law-abiding people and there are laws that are more receptive to the people.


Clic here to read the story from its source.