Job Discussion Forums

[veiledsentiments]

That is assuming that he is even provided with a legitimate work visa/iqama - something that seems to be becoming rarer by the moment.

VS

[RobertinOman]

I have lived in western style compound with housewives and working female residents. Many of them had been in Saudi for years. The non-employed women actually knew the names of their children. Several of the employed women found their husbands in Saudi. The only military compound that I lived in replicated the pathologies of American suburbia: alcoholism was rampant, adultery was not uncommon, the teenage children were undisciplined and often in trouble with the law. Life on an average compound that attracts middle management and professional types is more than pleasant. I supplemented my housing allowance out of pocket to live in an alcoholic free paradise with 6 swimming pools, tennis courts, health club, supermarket and restaurant. You can find good places to live in Ryadh and Jeddah. Normally, any city that has a Jarir bookstore has decent places to live.

[Badar Bin Bada Boom]

Oh, please. I suppose "normally" is the operative word, because two of the main towns in Qassim have Jarir bookstores but they are extremely unpleasant. Your worldview seems to revolve around a compound. Riyadh, Jeddah and Damman are OK compared to the rest of the Kingdom, but they are miserable cities nonetheless. Still, I am in the kingdom, and I knew what I was getting into. One must count one's blessings and enjoy what there is--compounds, pools, satellite TV, internet with VPN, books from abroad/Kindle. In Qassim there are virtually no women to be seen or heard unless you count those black, slow-moving tents in the supermarket, blocking all the aisles.

[Slingshot]

Hi.

Can someone tell me what's happened to this proposal to limit what foreign workers send out of Saudi? I assume it had no teeth or wasn't put through at all, since I haven't heard or seen much about it. True or no?

Thanks for any help.

[BretHarte]

It's not likely to happen. If it did, Saudi would lose its workforce.

If you haven't lived in KSA, you have no idea how little Saudis work. I'm not saying there aren't hard working Saudis, but I haven't seen a Saudi with an outside job before. I have students that I've had to teach how to make a photocopy. I wonder how many know how to pump their own gasoline.

[Slingshot]

Good to know. Thanks.

I hadn't worried about it that much, considering how much I have heard about how much they need outside labor and expertise, but I was curious about what kind of incremental moves they'd make to appease the voices within who want that kind of clampdown.

I read somewhere that they were limiting the stay of workers to six years. I assume that also went away? Or was that actually enacted?

[Slingshot]

Good to know. Thanks.

I hadn't worried about it that much, considering how much I have heard about how much they need outside labor and expertise, but I was curious about what kind of incremental moves they'd make to appease the voices within who want that kind of clampdown.

I read somewhere that they were limiting the stay of workers to six years. I assume that also went away? Or was that actually enacted?

[battleshipb_b]

The usual. Yes the idea was proposed in the Shura but quickly vetoed by those who knew it could have major repercussions. They want to increase employment prospects for the Saudi youth and unemployed but there are some menial jobs that people won't do unlike in Bahrain where you have Bahrainis pumping gas and working in fast food outlets. There is a growing cadre of expert and dedicated Saudi professionals, especially women so expect to see a changing employment pattern within the next ten to fifteen years.

[scot47]

Exchange control will NOT be introduced. Believe me !