Aged expat as 2 staff: Ministry seeks feedback on draft law

By Fatima Muhammad and Mariam Nihal JEDDAH — The Ministry of Labor and Social Development has invited feedback from businessmen on its draft law to count an expatriate who is over 60 years of age as two employees, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday. It has placed the draft on its Ma3an portal. People can access it at http://qarar.ma3an.gov.sa/a/ideas/recent/campaigns/18233 to express their views on the draft decision. The ministry’s objective is to seek businessmen’s views to make any improvements in the decision so as to keep up with the labor market requirements and provide job opportunities for Saudi youth. The deadline to submit feedback ends on Muharram 23 (Oct. 24). Wasif Kabli, owner of Kabli Trading Company, said that he has two of his employees who are above 60 years of age, but he will not let them go just because of a new decision. “These two stood with me hand-in-hand and we together built what is now a company. It is not the best way to say thank you to those who served us.” Kabli said that his company is in the platinum zone and thus he meets the Saudization criterion. “If letting them stay in my company will require that I pay extra fees I will do that,” said Kabli, who noted that though youth have the power and energy yet that does not replace the qualifications of those who enjoy years of experience. Abdul Manan, an investor in the construction and contracting sector, said that if the decision is implemented it will pose a great challenge to them as they will need to replace qualified workers. A number of commentators agreed that exceptions should be made for experts and qualified workers in all sectors. Meanwhile, expatriates expressed concern at the draft decision. Saudi entrepreneurs were not clear on how this decision will improve the current labor market situation. “I think in the long term, the emphasis is to hire more Saudis. Does this mean I will let go an experienced expat employee? Personally, no. “But I know the market is now adamant to reduce the number of expats, especially those who have reached 60 years of age. This may reduce jobs for expats in the future. Right now, it’s too early to have an impact,” Rashid Abdul Majeed, a 35-year-old Saudi businessman, told Saudi Gazette. “The question really is, what’s next. The changes day by day are impacting the lives of expats,” said Faraz Ahmad, a 25-year-old Pakistani national living in Jeddah. “We are already thinking about our future outside. I have lived here for 25 years. And suddenly, the laws are made harsher for us to sustain a living here with family. This rule affects my father who is almost 60 years of age.” “We are already looking for options to move out.” Many senior expats, who have been living in the Kingdom for over 40 years, have been taken by surprise by this announcement. “I didn’t see it coming. I was shocked to read it in the newspaper,” said Abdullah Khan, a 55-year-old Indian national. Expats living in Saudi Arabia have taken to social media to discuss the new rule.