alharbi
02-11-2003, Sun 11:31 PM
http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=33276
Unemployment in Saudi Arabia to grow to 10pc
Khaleej Times - 02/11/2003
AL KHOBAR (Saudi Arabia) - Unemployment in Saudi Arabia will rise to 10 per cent this year compared with eight per cent last year, according to the economic expert Dr Ihssan bu Hilaiqa.
The rate was very high for a country two-third of its workers are expatriates, he said.
"Though the country is seeing a rise in the number of foreign labourers, unemployment is not limited to Saudis only but a large number of expatriates are jobless," he said.
Dr Bu Hilaiqa attributed the situation mainly to free visas which he considers as a violation of many rules. He wanted the free visa system to be ended. In his view, foreign workers should be brought in only temporarily and only for filling a vacancy which cannot be filled by a Saudi citizen.
Dr Bu Hilaiqa criticised what he called a visa racket, where some people get to issue visas for expatriates and make money out of that business without having jobs for them.
This had hindered the efforts of Saudi job seekers, he said, and called upon the authorities to curb this unhealthy practice.
ذكر الدكتور ابوحليقة بان البطالة هذا العام ارتفعت الى 10 بالمئة مقارنة بـ 8 بالمئة العام السابق ويعتبر ان هذه النسبة كبيره في بلد ثلثي الايدي العاملة به من الوافدين ويشهد تزايد في اعداد العمالة الوافدة ونسب ذلك الى ما يعرف بالفيز الحره وطالب بان يتوقف هذا النظام يعني نظام الفيز الحره وذكر ان الكثير من الوافدين ايضاً لاعمل لهم وطالب بان لايتم احضار العمالة الوافدة الا للمهن التي لايمكن شغلها بسعوديين.
(الدكتور بوحليقة عضو مجلس الشورى)
Unemployment in Saudi Arabia to grow to 10pc
Khaleej Times - 02/11/2003
AL KHOBAR (Saudi Arabia) - Unemployment in Saudi Arabia will rise to 10 per cent this year compared with eight per cent last year, according to the economic expert Dr Ihssan bu Hilaiqa.
The rate was very high for a country two-third of its workers are expatriates, he said.
"Though the country is seeing a rise in the number of foreign labourers, unemployment is not limited to Saudis only but a large number of expatriates are jobless," he said.
Dr Bu Hilaiqa attributed the situation mainly to free visas which he considers as a violation of many rules. He wanted the free visa system to be ended. In his view, foreign workers should be brought in only temporarily and only for filling a vacancy which cannot be filled by a Saudi citizen.
Dr Bu Hilaiqa criticised what he called a visa racket, where some people get to issue visas for expatriates and make money out of that business without having jobs for them.
This had hindered the efforts of Saudi job seekers, he said, and called upon the authorities to curb this unhealthy practice.
ذكر الدكتور ابوحليقة بان البطالة هذا العام ارتفعت الى 10 بالمئة مقارنة بـ 8 بالمئة العام السابق ويعتبر ان هذه النسبة كبيره في بلد ثلثي الايدي العاملة به من الوافدين ويشهد تزايد في اعداد العمالة الوافدة ونسب ذلك الى ما يعرف بالفيز الحره وطالب بان يتوقف هذا النظام يعني نظام الفيز الحره وذكر ان الكثير من الوافدين ايضاً لاعمل لهم وطالب بان لايتم احضار العمالة الوافدة الا للمهن التي لايمكن شغلها بسعوديين.
(الدكتور بوحليقة عضو مجلس الشورى)