Ali Budair AND Sami Al-Maghamsi Okaz/Saudi Gazette
TABUK, Madinah – A number of businessmen have called on Labor Minister Adel Fakeih to find solutions to problems consisting of visa issuance delays, worker transfers and cases of businesses employing Saudis to sit at home to get around Saudization quotas, otherwise known as fake Saudization. The businessmen said they have suffered immensely as a result of these three unresolved issues. Adam Al-Budair, a businessman in Tabuk, said a visa can take up to 60 days before being issued. “Sometimes a problem cannot be solved on the ministry's website and we end up having to go to the labor office to seek their help,” Al-Budair. Rapid visa services are available only to businesses that are in the platinum category of the Nitaqat system to improve employment for Saudis, meaning they are well above their Saudization targets. Another businessman, Ahmad Makki, said the ministry should create job opportunities for graduates of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation. “Most graduates are well-qualified and their skills can be utilized but it seems the private sector is not interested in employing them. “Fake Saudization should be eradicated so that the graduates can find jobs.” Muhammad Al-Asbani said everyone complains about the recruitment of domestic servants, adding that the procedures can take forever while in other countries they take less time. Fawaz Al-Eneizi wondered if the ministry has utilized Nitaqat and the Hafiz unemployment assistance program effectively. He said citizens still complain that they programs have not be applied effectively and their results are still not reflected on the ground. Naif Al-Fakhri called on the ministry to support small business owners and solve the problem of protracted sponsorship transfers, noting that most labor offices do not have any solution for this issue and require citizens to go to the inistry in person. Nasser Al-Qahtani, from Jeddah, said Saudization should be applied effectively because it would reflect positively on the national economy. Dr. Khalid Abdulqadir, from Madinah, wants the ministry to enforce decisions it has made in the past. “There should be a clear strategy for employers and employees. “Besides, the trust between both parties should be enhanced by the ministry so that young Saudis find the private sector more attractive than the public sector. “The ministry should study the problems female workers face in the market and what makes them quit jobs so fast. “The obstacles women face should be solved.” He suggested the ministry issue an annual report showing the jobs in demand in the market. The ministry should also work more closely with the Higher Education Ministry to help students study programs that will more or less guarantee them jobs. Khalid Al-Hujairi complained about expatriate workers who violate residency regulations and do not work for their original sponsors. He said many such expatriate workers control several industries in the Kingdom and this should be stopped.
