Test made mandatory for new expat engineers

JEDDAH — The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) has decided to make it mandatory that all newly recruited foreign engineers should sit for a test and attend a personal interview. “The council also decided to put a condition that foreign engineers should have a minimum of three years' experience to get employed in the Kingdom. We have taken this decision after finding 1,200 foreign engineers without experience,” Jamil Al-Bagawi, chief of the SCE was quoted by Makkah daily as saying. Al-Bagawi said these 1,200 newly graduated foreign engineers are employed here while 450 experienced Saudi engineers stay out of work seeking jobs. Al-Bagawi said the decision was taken recently on the basis of proposals made by the organization’s board of directors to improve the quality of government projects. “We have noticed that some engineering firms and private companies recruit inexperienced foreign engineers,” he said, adding that it has affected the quality of work and harmed the national economy and projects. “It also resulted in Saudi engineers losing their chance to get employed,” Al-Bagawi said. The newly graduated Saudi engineers deserve these jobs more than their foreign counterparts. “We prefer recruitment of those foreign engineers who can add value to the country through their experience,” he explained. Al-Bagawi said the new move would help fresh Saudi engineers get quick placement as they would not be denied jobs citing lack of experience. “If companies can recruit and employ 1,200 inexperienced foreign engineers why don’t they employ fresh Saudi graduates,” he asked. He ruled out the possibility of engineers presenting fake degrees, saying his organization has taken measures to prevent any foul play in coordination with relevant authorities. “We coordinate with security agencies to prevent entry of engineers holding fake degrees. An expat engineer would be given resident permit only after his certificates are verified and authenticated. We also conduct personal interviews to make sure recruited engineers are qualified to do the job,” the paper quoted Al-Bagawi as saying