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Arabia
Saudis Told to Learn New Things, Develop New Habits
2004-06-04
In other words, you people need to work for a living!
JEDDAH, 4 June 2004 — Saudi citizens who have grown used to having things easy and taking for granted many privileges have been urged to concentrate on learning new things and developing new habits. The objective is to make the Saudization drive bear fruit and help solve the country’s serious unemployment problem. Describing unemployment as the “most serious problem facing the Kingdom,” Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi said fighting it should be a national policy rather than a government concern. He warned that the solution could be painful. Officials have been urging a shift from total dependence on foreign workers and have been calling on citizens to learn to live with new realities and develop new habits. Hard work requires a person to be fully prepared for a job.
Well, so much for that idea.
"Hey guys, I have an idea! Why don't we have the madrassas teach something useful?"
"Shaddup, Mahmoud, and pick up yer Qu'ran and rifle!"
Crown Prince Abdullah has repeatedly said that the days of the boom are over.
Poor choice of words, Prince
Dr. Al-Gosaibi said the time when people expected to be taken care of from cradle to grave has come to an end. Striking a comparison between a Saudi family and the richest man in the world, Bill Gates, the minister said while a Saudi family may employ a large number of domestics, Bill Gates has only a very limited number. No exact figures for unemployment are available, making it hard to tell how many Saudis are jobless, especially women. There are significant variations in the available estimates. The number of unemployed males has been estimated at around 300,000. The Ministry of Labor has requested a detailed study on unemployment among Saudi women.
That shouldn't take long.
Future statistics on employment will have to be more reliable by covering all sectors of the population; the present system which is used by the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Statistics does not include all sectors and segments but only selected ones. Soon after becoming minister a few months ago, Dr. Al-Gosaibi issued a decision banning small businesses from recruiting foreign workers. (According to official figures the Kingdom last year issued 700,000 work visas.) The minister’s idea was to reduce the number of foreigners entering the Kingdom on work visas after it was discovered that many businesses were being run by bogus offices. A person running a small business would claim to be overseeing several establishments, all carrying the name of the owner which would allow them to apply for hundreds of visas. Regional labor offices say a large number of small businesses are fake and that many of them rent their names complete with everything including the signboard. The minister said such practices were corrupt and promised the effect of the decision banning small businesses from bringing in more foreign workers would bear fruit within a year. The minister said he would seek to meet the businesses halfway on Saudization. He wanted businessmen to treat unemployment as a national issue, saying he would not seek to impose 100 percent Saudization or take away any job from any expatriate as long as their services are needed. Nor would he force on businessmen anything they may not be able to carry out; however, they must make their demands clear, he added.
Posted by:Anonymous4617

#11  #8 What if there is a violent overthrow of the Saudi royalty? Let's say an insurgency/militia acts but is defeated and its casualties are large?

The Saudis should probably confer with Iran on the subject of ramming the flower of their population's manhood through the meat grinder (known as the Iraq-Iran war). Iranian politics faces a distinct undercurrent of resentment as increasing numbers of women agitate politically. The Iranian mullahs will be obliged to implement ever-increasingly severe and misogynistic measures to combat this, much to the detriment of their continually diminishing popularity.

Who will take over the everyday burdens of banking, military, health care, etc. when the native male population has been decimated and a female population with borderline literacy skills and no work experience is all that remains?

This is something that I addressed in my initial statements. The profound technology gap and general lack of work ethic embodied by the House of Saud in particular and reflected by Saudi society in general are harbingers of rather dreadful possibilities.

Saudi Arabia can either revert to a nomadic herding society or face complete displacement by foreigners who possess sufficient expertise to operate the oil production facilities based in their region. Neither of these are very pretty outcomes, but the Saudis have been constructing this elaborate nightmare for some time now.

One thing is fairly well certain. Allowing Saudi Arabia and its petroleum reserves to fall into Wahabbist control is neither an option nor desirable for American or European interests alike. However blind Europe is to this, America's big-oil cartel and automotive manufacturing combine will take a dim view of such possibilities and you may be certain their displeasure will be well communicated to their puppets in Washington D.C.
Posted by: Zenster   2004-06-04 8:37:33 PM  

#10  Crown Prince Abdullah has repeatedly said that the days of the boom are over.

Yes, AP. Now come the days of "bada bing- bada boom".
Posted by: tu3031   2004-06-04 7:34:57 PM  

#9  Sorry--meant to say violent overthrow attempted...
Posted by: jules 187   2004-06-04 5:06:22 PM  

#8  Zenster-good points. I would also add:

What if there is a violent overthrow of the Saudi royalty? Let's say an insurgency/militia acts but is defeated and its casualties are large?

Who will take over the everyday burdens of banking, military, health care, etc. when the native male population has been decimated and a female population with borderline literacy skills and no work experience is all that remains?
Posted by: jules 187   2004-06-04 4:53:12 PM  

#7  solid good bathroom faucet handles

S/B "... solid GOLD bathroom faucet handles ..."
Posted by: Zenster   2004-06-04 2:46:48 PM  

#6  The Saudis are reaping the whirlwind they have sown over the last several decades. Permitting their nation to stagnate technologically whilst constantly overemphasizing religious indoctrination is stirring up a dust devil that may well sweep them from power.

All of this is one more reason why it may be necessary to appropriate their entire nation and place it under some sort of coalition control. Oil flow would be maintained and their religious shrines could be gated in order to wield a club over the heads of militant jihadis.

I realize this is a gigantic undertaking, but the notion of a Wahabbist controlled Saudi Arabia is even less digestible for much of the global community. Some hard choices loom in the very near future. The royals have outlived any use to the world and even to their own nation.

Some reports have detailed a 90% decline in Saudi per capita income from $60K to $6K. Such a precipitous drop in their standard of living literally guarantees unrest. I don't see the royals melting down their solid good bathroom faucet handles to help assuage this poverty any time soon. The House of Saud has been farting through silk for far too long.
Posted by: Zenster   2004-06-04 1:34:50 PM  

#5  This article and editors' comments are second to the Nuggets of the Urdu Press, but they are a close second. One that got my fancy:

Crown Prince Abdullah has repeatedly said that the days of the boom are over.
Poor choice of words, Prince
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-06-04 12:09:34 PM  

#4  I can understand the Saudis, I'm a big picture, idea man myself.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-06-04 11:31:44 AM  

#3  Poor choice of words.... LOL!

The whole damn article may be the funniest thing ever posted at RB.

PeeeDeeeee?
Posted by: Shipman   2004-06-04 11:30:51 AM  

#2  Me
Posted by: Bulldog   2004-06-04 10:40:25 AM  

#1  The... um... Saudi blogger described his compatriots as a 'nation of managers, not workers' the other day. Well, that's a kind way of putting it, I suppose.
Posted by: Anonymous5121   2004-06-04 10:39:40 AM  

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