Saudization is still a major concern in both the public and private sectors. It is not proceeding as it should. Many entities, including the Ministry of Commerce, the Labor Office, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and local chambers of commerce share the responsibility for allowing shadowy foreign managers to take over, run companies and continue to employ people of their own nationality. It was only after the state intervened by forcing Saudization on all establishments that these managers began to realize the reasons behind the successes and failures of many companies.
There are still some who, for obvious reasons, do not want to see a Saudi sharing responsibility with a foreigner. Some business owners seem convinced by what these foreigners tell them — that Saudis have failed to do the job and thus must go. This is the beginning of the job cartels which are so influential and threaten to engulf most company business. The Saudi manager is often traveling abroad either for business or pleasure and the day-to-day running of the company is left to the foreign manager.
To ensure that Saudization is carried out as planned, I suggest the restructuring of all companies based on their actual financial resources and their ability to expand. If necessary, managers who do not comply with Saudization will be fired and replaced with others capable of running of the company without regard for personal influence.
The role of the labor offices should not be confined to sending lists of candidates but to force the companies to offer jobs. The new employees should be evaluated and the ministries of commerce and industry informed of the evaluation. No Saudi employee should be fired unless the local labor office is convinced of the reasons.
Many successful companies are run by Saudis who do not betray the trust put in them or resort to stealing company funds or running away with company money. They are honest and hard-working because their roots are in this country.
