Al-Madina

TO His Excellency, the Minister of Labor.

Dear minister, you know my appreciation for your wonderful efforts aimed at solving the problem of unemployment among Saudis. Now I want to convey to your excellency the opinion of the people, who wish that you begin the process of Saudization from senior positions, and not from low-paid menial jobs.

For example, you need to begin with the big organizations and companies that are filled with huge numbers of foreign workers at the top of the job hierarchy and who control the key positions in them. They also earn fancy salaries, special benefits and incentives.

These positions can be held by Saudis with a high level of efficiency, and there are many Saudis who wait for such opportunities. Unfortunately, they did not get the chance and the reason is foreign workers have control over all major decision making in these companies and organizations. They fight off every Saudi who thinks of approaching them in search of a key position in those companies.

Saudization does not mean hiring a woman to work in a shop for construction materials or food store and allow her to work alongside seven men. Neither does it mean hiring a qualified doctor to work in a supermarket.

Saudization means preparing the ground to enable the citizens to serve the country sincerely and faithfully by giving them job opportunities that are commensurate with their educational qualifications.

Therefore, unemployment will continue to remain a national issue as long as your solutions are removed from the ground realities. The fear about crippled minds is justified.

There is no love that exceeds the love of homeland, and there is nothing more beautiful than being the first person to receive the care and attention of one’s homeland.

Saudization does not mean hiring a woman to work in a shop for construction materials or food store and allow her to work alongside seven men. Neither does it mean hiring a qualified doctor to work in a supermarket.