The amount of money transferred abroad over the past 10 years amounts to the country’s entire budget for three consecutive years. An estimated seven million foreigners have so far sent SR585.4 billion abroad, according to a recently published report, which said the amount would meet the cost of the Kingdom’s infrastructure projects from now until the year 2020.
To this huge loss could also be added the indirect loss as a result of the strain on the country’s infrastructure by the presence of all these people. If we further consider the fact that a large percentage of the seven million are engaged in low-prestige jobs that could be done by unemployed Saudis, a clear picture emerges of the constant drain the country must cope with.
What the Kingdom actually needs is highly-qualified people serving in specialized jobs. At present these amount to only 20 percent of the seven million. The rest add nothing, or very little, and would not be missed if we got rid of them. Their activities are confined to selling goods in shops and vegetable markets, working in bakeries and barbershops or as drivers for families or taxi companies. None of these jobs require degrees, a great deal of experience or any knowledge of foreign languages.
The situation we are now in is the result of the boom years. It is said that Saudis shun these low-prestige jobs. To a large extent this is true, but there are reasons for this. A major one is lax regulations and laws governing the recruitment of foreign workers that have been unchanged for more than two decades. We need strict laws and adequate measures to make Saudis take up the kinds of jobs often done by foreigners, all of which are jobs that provide a decent living. We cannot go on depending on others forever or blaming them for our misfortunes when we see billions being sent outside the Kingdom.
Before placing the blame on others, we must hold ourselves responsible for the state we are in. Foreigners have every right to every penny they earn legally and every right to transfer that money to their families in their home countries. They have every right to lead a decent life among us and benefit from all available services. In order for us to benefit from the ample opportunities available in our country, we must roll up our sleeves and prepare to work as many foreigners have done and are doing. The truth is that we still need to stimulate Saudi citizens and convince them to accept what is available to them.
