A popular Saudi columnist has urged the government to replace the sponsorship system with the Western migrant system to solve the problem of illegal workers in the country. Khalaf Al-Harbi said granting citizenship to qualified foreign workers would help solve the country's labor shortage.

“No country in the world can spare foreign workers. Even the US, Canada and European countries depend on them for many professions and they naturalize a large number of foreigners because today’s world depends on participation and exchange of expertise,” he wrote in Okaz Arabic daily.

Al-Harbi criticized the authorities for targeting workers who do menial jobs and hold iqamas provided by fake sponsors. He suggested that the best way to end the foul play of sponsors was to end the sponsorship system and introduce the migrants system as followed by Western countries.

“It is the humanitarian and legal solution for the problem as the state will be the sponsor of all legal foreign workers. If we did not take it now, it would be imposed on us one day as the world would not accept the idea of a person controlling the life and future of another person.”

Al-Harbi’s article has been welcomed by Saudis and expatriates as they wrote comments supporting his ideas. “This is a great article,” said Dr. Emad while commending the writer for demanding fair treatment of expats.

“These raids against foreigners go against the teachings of Islam as thousands become jobless all of a sudden, and most of them are Muslims who pray with us. They came to the Kingdom to earn bread for their families,” said Um Muhammad.

In his article, Al-Harbi questioned the general perception that expatriates are the reason for the unemployment of Saudis. He also criticized Saudis for not establishing better relations with foreigners. “As a result, the only concern of foreigners has become to just make money and transfer it to their countries.”

He also pointed out that Saudis should behave better to attract good foreign workers, who are always looking for a better lifestyle. He said many Saudis have been living on selling visas and money paid to them by poor foreign workers.

Al-Harbi criticized the authorities for punishing the poor workers who bought the visas without taking action against their fake sponsors. “These poor workers are detained and deported and even their iqamas are torn up.”

“This is the truth. So the fault is with us, not with the foreign worker. It is the Saudi company owner who refuses to employ Saudis and give jobs to foreigners.” Al-Harbi commended the contributions made by foreigners to develop the Kingdom.