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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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 Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 4:47 pm Post subject: 6 years |
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So the over-60 scare is past. Another one starts. Arab News for 17 December has an article reporting the proposal to limit foreigners working here to a six-year stay.
Hooha of courser but it is illustrative of the xenophobia of some sectors of the population in the Majikk Kingtom. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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Saudi Gazette of 19 Dec ran a lead story on the front page, stating that it had been decided to shelve this idea.
There will be other - equally looney suggestions. Watch this space. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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This rather reminds me of a few years back when they kept putting up the idea of taxing the expat workers... that one hasn't been floated for awhile...
VS |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:27 am Post subject: |
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I'm not sure if proposing a law limiting the stay of "expats" is particularly "xenophobic". After all, what country allows foreign residents to stay for unlimited periods as a matter of course?
On the subject of laws which are "proposed" only to be quickly forgotton, does anyone remember the notion that the taxi business would be completely Saudiised by ... what was it, February 2002? Or the one banning all foreign men under 40 from working in shops, for fear they were seducing too many women? At the moment, the latest rumour is that women over 40 are going to be allowed to drive some time this year.
Yeah, sure, that'll really happen. |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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| After all, what country allows foreign residents to stay for unlimited periods as a matter of course? |
I think if you go to the UN site you'll see a list of countries, 90% of which do precisely that. |
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Bebsi
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 958
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| Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 5:25 pm Post subject: The 6-Year Expat? |
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I don't think limiting the tenure of expats would be xenophobic, just "brave", as Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes, Prime Minister might put it. I am trying to imagine KSA surviving without all that foreign labour, and such mental explorations threaten to reduce me to tears...tho I am not sure whether from mirth or from deep sadness at imminent catastrophe.
On the subject of women drivers, I can understand why they are currently banned. After all, as was pointed out to me recently, the prophet Mohammed specifically said 1400 years ago that it was sinful for women to drive!
Apart from that...I shudder to think what the sudden presence of about 30% more Saudis "driving" (for want of a better expression) on the Kingdom's roads would do for our longevity.  |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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No, you don't gt it dear Bebsi. This particular policy isn't part of Saudiization.
The idea was to replace all the Third World laborers every six years with another lot, so that the GCC countries couldn't be accused of denying integration to long-term residents. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:01 am Post subject: |
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| Stephen Jones wrote: |
| The idea was to replace all the Third World laborers every six years with another lot, so that the GCC countries couldn't be accused of denying integration to long-term residents. |
Doesn't it seem rather late in the game to be worrying about this little detail?
Or is this related to some UN or WTO ruling or something?
VS |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:22 am Post subject: |
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Many TCN's have pointed out toi me that if they had gone to the US, UK, Australia, Canada or New Zealand, they could have become citizens - in some cases after three years' residence.
Not in KSA. They could be here 30 years and the question of citizenship would never arise ! |
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Bebsi
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 958
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:33 pm Post subject: Naturalisation |
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Does this mean that under new WTO conditions, if I spend another 6 years here in KSA, I can apply for citizenship of the Kingdom? Hurrah for that...what a boon that will be to my life, becoming a Saudi. Bebsi a Saudi? Get that one, folks...I can don my thawb, ghutrah and iqaal and get a Caprice with a furry cover on the dashboard. Eat 7/52 from takeaways, Kabsah only of course. Mrs. B is already salivating at the thought of it all!
Actually, as it is not part of the Bebsi life-plan to spend another 6 years here in the sand, I may have to forego the priviledge. Drat!!!!
On a more serious note, can anyone answer this question: if the WTO says that anyone here longer than 6 years must be eligible for citizenship, what would happen in the case of a non-Muslim Indian, for example who wanted to live out his life here as a citizen? Could he be denied on the basis of religion? Forced to convert (contradiction in terms, eh)? What WOULD happen? Isn't it the case that ALL Saudi citizens must be Muslim, or is that a fallacy? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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The WTO couldn't enforce it anyway, if they have even suggested it... I was just speculating as to why the discussion had come up. They could only keep KSA out of it and I don't know that it would matter to the Saudis if they did...
And other than the 4 English-speaking countries mentioned (and probably the EU), what other countries will allow you to get a passport? Japan? China? Korea? Russia?
Will the EU give an American a passport if he works X years in some EU country as a janitor or steel worker? The only people that I know that have managed this married EU citizens.
VS |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:35 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Will the EU give an American a passport if he works X years in some EU country as a janitor or steel worker? |
There is no such thing as an EU passport. Only passports from member countries, so the conditions vary.
The answer however to the best of my knowledge is yes for every country within the EU. Some such as Germany, and now the UK, actually set you an exam, but in all cases after a certain number of years of residence you would be eligible for citizenship.
The question is not one of citizenship anyway. It is a question of the right to family reunification, which has varying UN resolutions in its favour. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:05 am Post subject: |
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| Yes the rule was (is ?) that only graduates can bring their familes to the Kingdom. Like all rules in KSA it is frequently circumvented. |
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ootii
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 124
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:52 am Post subject: Re: The 6-Year Expat? |
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| Bebsi wrote: |
| I don't think limiting the tenure of expats would be xenophobic, just "brave", as Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes, Prime Minister might put it. I am trying to imagine KSA surviving without all that foreign labour, and such mental explorations threaten to reduce me to tears...tho I am not sure whether from mirth or from deep sadness at imminent catastrophe. |
The most essential of whom are not teachers or doctors but maids, drivers and nannys. Without this army of servants this country would very quickly grind to a halt, literally. |
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ootii
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 124
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:57 am Post subject: Re: Naturalisation |
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| Bebsi wrote: |
| Isn't it the case that ALL Saudi citizens must be Muslim, or is that a fallacy? |
Yes and no.
As for the WTO, of course, anyone is free to apply for citizenship. New rules were announced last year and the government received almost a million applications, or so reports said.
Unfortunately, they would only consider applicants with ten year residence behind them and a PhD in either medicine or engineering (I kid you not). |
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