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.
