Minister of Labor Ghazi Al-Gosaibi recently clarified his stance on a ban on Bangladeshi workers. He said that the ban was only limited to certain jobs, such as employing them as domestic servants and farm laborers. He also said that the restriction was imposed in line with the policy of limiting the maximum number of workers hired from a single country.
However, the media has considered this change of thought as a triumph. Why? Media outlets believe that the pressure they have created by writing reports on Bangladeshis and the crimes that some of them have committed has helped change the minister’s decision and that the minister’s statement has come as a response to media pressure.
Newspapers celebrated the decision and reports were published on the front page of different local newspapers. They thought of it as a triumph and that they have the right to be happy. However, newspapers only did what they are obliged to do. When someone does a job, he should not brag about it or praise himself so that he gets distracted and forgets his main job.
Personally, I see this as a triumph for the labor minister and not the media. I do not really like tension between the media and officials from government ministries. I do not like the idea of two groups competing on the battlefield until one of them wins.
I do not want the media and government officials to exist as two opposites who never come together unless there is a battle.
For journalists to adopt such behavior is totally unacceptable. Journalism is supposed to be a discipline concerned with collecting, analyzing, verifying and presenting information regarding events, trends, issues and people.
The decision of the labor minister regarding the Bangladeshi workers is a triumph because it proves the importance of public interest. It also proves the ability of government officials to take decisions even if they are tough and challenging. Therefore, I applaud the minister, although it is not my habit to present written compliments or praises.
