Saudi businesswomen lauded the decision to extend the grace period, while emphasizing the need for authorities to allow female dependents to work and the need to address the problems faced by expatriates and nationals during the previous three-month amnesty period.
Asya Alshaikh, president and founder of Tamkeen Development and Management Consulting, told Arab News that the decision to extend the amnesty was expected, “because Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is no stranger to these humanitarian gestures.”
“The grace period was in the interest of all businesses; there is no question about it. The previous period showed that the government is serious about regulating the labor market. We believe that the rush of expatriate workers to the gates of their embassies and the Passport Department is a sign of their respect for Saudi laws and a sign that they understand the gravity of the matter,” she said.
Alshaikh criticized the language with which some media outlets negatively portrayed foreign workers, despite their immense contributions to the Kingdom. “It’s not fair that after all the years they have spent working in the Kingdom that we give them no credit,” she said.
Madawi Al-Hassoun, another Saudi businesswoman, agrees saying, “Right from the beginning we requested an extension of the amnesty; three months were just not enough.”
“The issue boils down to regulating the labor market. However, I believe each sector should be given priority according to its nature. It is difficult to do a one-stop Saudization of all sectors; there needs to be a gradual approach.
“In some parts of the economy Saudization is just a number. There is no true substance to it. Yes, many businesses increased the numbers of Saudis in their work force. However, have we addressed the issue of quality? Some of the Saudis who entered the labor market perceive themselves as marginalized. They are not making real contributions to the economy,” she said.
Amani Nassir expressed concerns that the amnesty extension would make authorities and expatriates less zealous about correcting their status, especially with the advent of Ramadan, followed by the Eid holiday.
“Many people used to say that the grace period was too short. Now they have no excuse,” she cautioned.
‘Grace period in interest of businesses’
