Government companies have been urged to give better compensation packages to fresh Saudi engineering graduates under their employment.

“Some government firms are a little flexible in terms of salaries for junior Saudi engineers. However, others are not as generous,” said Omar Yousif Tobbal, a professional projects manager in a top Saudi company.

He called on the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) to take action on their behalf, adding that many of these young Saudi engineers are its members.

“I hope the SCE takes up the cudgels for the underpaid Saudi engineering graduates. It has been saying for the last five years that it will do something about it,” he said, adding that the SCE has achieved many things and professionals have high expectations of them.

Tobbal noted the years of burning the midnight oil by the young Saudi engineers to finish their courses and realize their dreams. However, their low salaries make them wonder whether it is worth the effort, he said.

“Money might not have been an issue when they enrolled in the College of Engineering but experience and the stark reality of life tells them that it matters after all,” he said.

He noted that while senior engineers with top management positions receive good salaries, fresh graduates don’t, adding that some draw only SR7,000 a month.

“This is too little. Local firms have to offer a better salary structure to encourage more Saudi students to take up engineering courses,” Tobbal who manages about 20 projects and more than 1500 people between engineering professionals and labors said.

“I personally worked with a leading contracting company for a salary of less than SR6,000 at the beginning of my career,” said Tobbal who graduated from Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz University with a degree in Civil Engineering in 2007.

The engineering profession is one of the most critical sectors in any country, especially in Saudi Arabia due to the rapid growth in manufacturing and construction industries.

“If we don’t encourage students and fresh graduates then we will continue employing foreign labor which is not helping the future generation,” he said.