Khalaf Al-Harbi

Okaz

 

A STUDY recently conducted by King Khaled Charity Organization on the “adequacy line” in the Kingdom had the impact of a bucket of cold water being poured on the heads of government officials trying in vain for many years to formulate strategies and implement plans to end the chronic problem of poverty. The study said the monthly level of income that can save a Saudi family from falling into the ditch of poverty was about SR9,000.



This figure is far above the minimum wage limits decided by the government for both the public and private sectors. It simply means that we have more poor families than we ever imagined.



As we are accustomed to respecting only the studies that can be to our liking and disregard those which are not to our taste, I doubt this study will receive any attention. The figures contained in the study will not translate into objectives that can be attained through clear programs.



Therefore, it is most likely that this study will be put in forgotten files in the cold and humid archive rooms. This is because we used to ignore the current persistent issues only to pay a high price in the future.



Before we start our seasonal escape plan, we have to first think carefully about the future price of this escape. Meeting this adequacy line, which is only now about SR9,000, may cost us billions of riyals in the future. For instance, the Labor Ministry has paid huge amounts of money to make plans to tackle unemployment. These plans are doomed to fail in the future because they do not help the poor meet even a third of the adequacy line.



Unemployment will be the favorite choice for the young men and women as any work will not protect them against poverty. Therefore it is better for them not to work at all than to work like peasants.



The plans made to fight corruption will be like writing on water. The employee whose income is not sufficient to protect him against poverty will be an easy target for the corruption sharks.



The ideal employee who thinks only of the public interest is a rare commodity and only found in movies and soap operas. Shielding employees against corruption can be achieved by paying them good salaries that are enough to make them live at least within the adequacy line.



If we pay them well, they can resist the temptations of corruption. Of course there are many other problems that may arise if we do not ensure our families are living adequately.



There will be more crimes, cases of domestic violence will increase and drug trafficking will be on the rise. These are issues that will cost the government billions of riyals to deal with.



This means that attempts made now to reach the adequacy line will be less costly in the future. So, if we make efforts to enable our families to reach the adequacy line today we will not have to pay much tomorrow.