JEDDAH, 15 December 2005 — The annual summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which opens in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, will discuss a number of important topics including a proposal to restrict the stay of expatriate workers in the member states to a maximum of six years, informed sources said.
The move comes in the wake of growing pressure from international organizations to allow expatriates to settle down in GCC countries and to give them equal rights.
Bahraini Minister of Labor Dr. Majeed bin Mohsen Al-Alawi confirmed that GCC labor ministers had submitted the proposal to GCC leaders for action in their forthcoming summit. The proposal exempts indispensable professionals and specialists from the rule.
Saudi Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi said the proposal was made in anticipation of international pressure to naturalize expatriates who have been living in the region for long periods. GCC countries fear that naturalization would have economic, social, demographic, political and security consequences.
Al-Alawi put the number of foreign workers in the Gulf countries at 12 million “which is increasing by five percent every year and expected to reach 18 million in 12 years.”
He said foreign workers transfer from the region some $27 billion in remittances home annually. “The Gulf region has become a unique region where foreign workers outnumber local populations,” Al-Alawi said, noting that the ratio differs from country to country and varies from 60 to 90 percent.
Al-Gosaibi warned against the demographic danger posed by expatriates in the GCC, which includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and the UAE, and called for a quick decision by leaders to solve the problem.
“We have made the proposal fixing six years as the maximum period of stay for expatriates in order to deal with the demographic danger and the possibility of an international decision calling for naturalization of expatriates who have lived more than five years in the member states,” Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic daily quoted Gosaibi as saying.
The two-day summit will focus on measures to confront terrorism and extremism, in addition to ways of strengthening political, defense, economic, commercial, cultural and media cooperation.
According to press reports, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will lead the Kingdom’s delegation to the 26th GCC summit. This is the first GCC summit since King Abdullah ascended the Saudi throne following the death of King Fahd on Aug. 1, 2005.
GCC sources said Sultan Qaboos would lead Oman’s delegation to the summit. All GCC rulers will take part except the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber who will be absent for reasons of health.
GCC foreign ministers will hold a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Saturday to prepare the agenda for the conference. Prince Saud Al-Faisal will attend the meeting.
GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya said the summit would have special significance as the region is passing through important events and developments, which need consultations and coordination among GCC countries. He said the foreign ministers would review reports and recommendations for expanding economic, social, educational, environmental, military and security cooperation.
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayed Al-Nahyan said his country would spare no efforts to strengthen the GCC. “The UAE is keen to back the GCC’s march in order to help member states coordinate and unify their stances and continue consultations at regional and international forums as an integrated organization taking care of its interests and those of its peoples,” he said.
Attiya said he was confident that the Dec. 18-19 Abu Dhabi summit would be a turning point in the history of the organization. “The summit will add fresh momentum to the GCC drive in all socio-economic areas for the interest of its peoples,” he added.
