A committee that was established to study various aspects of fishing boats operating in the Kingdom’s waters is set to recommend banning any boat unless it is operated by Saudis. Boat operators have challenged the proposed ban; they say it is unrealistic and will only complicate things in the fishing industry. They warn if the decision were enforced, it would lead to many fishing boats being unable to work. This would obviously lead to problems for fishermen, boat owners and operators, consumers and other related sectors.
Among the arguments put forth by the operators against the proposal are: 1. There are too few Saudis willing to work at sea and expose themselves to its dangers; 2. Financial returns from fishing are low; 3. Boat-owners will default and be unable to make annual payments to banks and other creditors.
The proposal is supported by the Saudi Coast Guard and is designed to fulfill their demand that only Saudis should operate boats in Saudi waters. If what the fishermen say is true — that the proposal is unrealistic and cannot be enforced and that Saudis are unlikely to work on fishing boats — then the proposal will put an additional burden on all those who are involved in the business. Many will find themselves out of job and thus further worsen one of the Kingdom’s major problems.
Our enthusiasm for Saudization should not carry us too far by making us overlook reality or become unaware of what jobs Saudis will or will not agree to do.
If the objective of the move is to employ Saudis just for the sake of Saudization even if the Saudis lack the required qualifications, this will further consolidate the impression that the presence of Saudis in companies and commercial establishments is cosmetic and that companies simply employ Saudis to meet a government requirement rather than for the sake of providing our people with jobs.
Arab News From the Local Press 26 March 2003
