Saudi Arabia to expel up to 2 million workers

08-12-2013 01:38PM #1

The Saudi solution to high unemployment, we can only be thankful that countries where Irish workers have fled to don't adopt similar policies, or that Ireland hasn't deported all the EE's.

Teodros Adhanom, the Ethiopian foreign minister, has turned to Twitter almost every night for the last three weeks to tersely report the number of his countrymen expelled from Saudi Arabia.
“Last night arrivals from Saudi reached 100,620,” he wrote on Friday, describing a fraction of one of the largest deportations in recent Middle East history.
Riyadh has said it wants to forcibly expel as many as 2m of the foreign workers, including hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians, Somalis, Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, who make up around a third of the country’s 30m population.
At home, the exodus of illegal workers is being seen as the kingdom’s most radical labour market experiment yet. With one in four young Saudi males out of work, analysts applaud Riyadh’s determination to tackle the problem, but doubt the crackdown will achieve its objective, as Saudi nationals are unlikely to apply for menial jobs.

original story on FT but behind paywall!

NuckingFacker · 08-12-2013 01:50PM

Good stuff. Now all the unemployed Saudis will be able to get jobs sweeping the streets, mixing concrete and cleaning Hotel rooms. I reckon they have it sussed.

The Saudis aren't the arrogant looking lads marching around in their white robes with their wives and kids following behind at five paces are they? The ones with all the oil money?Never struck me as the mixing concrete types. Maybe they fancy some excercise.

snubbleste · 08-12-2013 01:52PM

"illegal workers"
So, just enforcing the law

Seachmall · 08-12-2013 01:54PM

NuckingFacker wrote: »

Good stuff. Now all the unemployed Saudis will be able to get jobs sweeping the streets, mixing concrete and cleaning Hotel rooms. I reckon they have it sussed.

The Saudis aren't the arrogant looking lads marching around in their white robes with their wives and kids following behind at five paces are they? The ones with all the oil money?Never struck me as the mixing concrete types. Maybe they fancy some excercise.

I don't think every Saudi is a prince or oil tycoon.

Pretty sure they've turned out a manual labourer or two in their existence.

KwackerJack · 08-12-2013 01:58PM

Great Idea I think.

_Redzer_ · 08-12-2013 01:58PM

I'd nearly say they'd be better off out of the regressive hole that is Saudi Arabia. Medieval cesspit

dxhound2005 · 08-12-2013 02:01PM

Deleted User wrote: »

The Saudi solution to high unemployment, we can only be thankful that countries where Irish workers have fled to don't adopt similar policies, or that Ireland hasn't deported all the EE's.

http%3A%2F%2Fpeakoil.com%2Fpublicpolicy%2Fsaudi-arabia-to-expel-up-to-2-million-workers#axzz2mt05tQvV

original story on FT but behind paywall!

Fled sounds a bit dramatic.

NuckingFacker · 08-12-2013 02:05PM

Seachmall wrote: »

I don't think every Saudi is a prince or oil tycoon.

Pretty sure they've turned out a manual labourer or two in their existence.

They've turned out a few brutal pilots anyway..

08-12-2013 02:06PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Fled sounds a bit dramatic.

Well, they didn't stay around to sample the delights of life on the dole or to take minimum wage jobs.

Sulla Felix · 08-12-2013 02:07PM

NuckingFacker wrote: »

Good stuff. Now all the unemployed Saudis will be able to get jobs sweeping the streets, mixing concrete and cleaning Hotel rooms. I reckon they have it sussed.

The Saudis aren't the arrogant looking lads marching around in their white robes with their wives and kids following behind at five paces are they? The ones with all the oil money?Never struck me as the mixing concrete types. Maybe they fancy some excercise.

Seachmall wrote: »

I don't think every Saudi is a prince or oil tycoon.

Pretty sure they've turned out a manual labourer or two in their existence.

The "Saudi" in Saudi Arabia refers to the Saud family. They're the rich ones. The normal Arabians are a different kettle of fish altogether.

kenobee · 08-12-2013 02:07PM

Some have to pay big bribes in their home countries to get the job. It can be devastating financially if they are forced home prematurely.

08-12-2013 02:08PM

snubbleste wrote: »

"illegal workers"
So, just enforcing the law

A bit of a double standard though, they were happy to tolerate them during the good times now they just want rid!

NuckingFacker · 08-12-2013 02:10PM

Deleted User wrote: »

A bit of a double standard though, they were happy to tolerate them during the good times now they just want rid!

Read in the Times today that they were often quite forgetful when it came to actually paying them for their hours of drudgery. Another fine chapter in the Illustrious history of Saudi. "We're done exploiting ye, now feck off."

hfallada · 08-12-2013 02:11PM

They were "guest workers". They were never going to get citizenship or permanent residence. Germany keep its "gastarbeiters" aka guest workers after they helped rebuild their country after WW2, although they never plan on letting them stay in the country. This has caused massive problems. Turks who made us most of the guest workers have ridiculous high unemployment rates, very few make it to third level education and are a massive burden on the german tax payer. Although part of this is the germany governments fault, a lot it is the work ethic of the workers.

If Ireland hadnt been handing out citizenship like their was no tomorrow. We probably wont have unemployment rates of 30% plus with certain nationalities in Ireland.

Nodin · 08-12-2013 03:07PM

Deleted User wrote: »

The Saudi solution to high unemployment, we can only be thankful that countries where Irish workers have fled to don't adopt similar policies, or that Ireland hasn't deported all the EE's.

http%3A%2F%2Fpeakoil.com%2Fpublicpolicy%2Fsaudi-arabia-to-expel-up-to-2-million-workers#axzz2mt05tQvV

original story on FT but behind paywall!

Typical repressive xenophobic scumbaggery from a vile regime.

Nodin · 08-12-2013 03:08PM

hfallada wrote: »

They were "guest workers". They were never going to get citizenship or permanent residence. Germany keep its "gastarbeiters" aka guest workers after they helped rebuild their country after WW2, although they never plan on letting them stay in the country. This has caused massive problems. Turks who made us most of the guest workers have ridiculous high unemployment rates, very few make it to third level education and are a massive burden on the german tax payer. Although part of this is the germany governments fault, a lot it is the work ethic of the workers.

If Ireland hadnt been handing out citizenship like their was no tomorrow. We probably wont have unemployment rates of 30% plus with certain nationalities in Ireland.

You might want to read up on free movement within the EU.

woodoo · 08-12-2013 03:11PM

If a European country was to do the same what word would we see used repeatedly... you guessed it... the word RACIST.

shruikan2553 · 08-12-2013 03:35PM

If they are illegal I see no issue. If they do have a visa then they dont have to renew it and can send them out then.

wretcheddomain · 08-12-2013 03:44PM

How is this even possible, I mean, Saudi Albania only has a population of 3 million people...

Einhard · 08-12-2013 03:49PM

Ha, the chances of the average Saudi citizen applying for any type of menial job are nil to none. The reason they have 10 million foreigners in the country to sweep the streets, make the tea, mind the babies, teach the children, build the roads, drive the taxis is because the locals wouldn't be caught dead doing so. And, as long as the authorities bribe the populace with grants and goodies to ensure they won't revolt, then they won't have to. Idiotic move.

crybaby · 08-12-2013 03:51PM

Only 11 percent of workers in the private sector are Saudi nationals, the sheer laziness is mind boggling. Sweeping a street, driving a taxi or cooking a meal is beneath them

About time they get off their oil rich holes and started working

the_syco · 08-12-2013 03:51PM

snubbleste wrote: »

"illegal workers"
So, just enforcing the law

Actually, it's even more laughable; they're most likely kicking the people out that couldn't leave as said people had their passports removed from them when they 1st came to SA and have worked in SA as slaves for the past while... :pac:

kenobee wrote: »

Some have to pay big bribes in their home countries to get the job. It can be devastating financially if they are forced home prematurely.

Devastating financially regardless, as most end up in jobs that pay sweet feck all.

Oregano_State · 08-12-2013 03:54PM

NuckingFacker wrote: »

They've turned out a few brutal pilots anyway..

Unnecessary.

snubbleste · 08-12-2013 04:02PM

According to wiki:

Saudi's population is estimated to consist of 16m citizens, 9m registered foreign expatriates and 2m illegal immigrants

That's a huge amount of furriners

SV · 08-12-2013 04:06PM

Oregano_State wrote: »

Unnecessary.

Ah stop picking things out to be offended over.

08-12-2013 04:10PM

It'll be the women next when that doesn't work - no jobs for women

PhlegmyMoses · 08-12-2013 04:17PM

hfallada wrote: »

They were "guest workers". They were never going to get citizenship or permanent residence. Germany keep its "gastarbeiters" aka guest workers after they helped rebuild their country after WW2, although they never plan on letting them stay in the country. This has caused massive problems. Turks who made us most of the guest workers have ridiculous high unemployment rates, very few make it to third level education and are a massive burden on the german tax payer. Although part of this is the germany governments fault, a lot it is the work ethic of the workers.

If Ireland hadnt been handing out citizenship like their was no tomorrow. We probably wont have unemployment rates of 30% plus with certain nationalities in Ireland.

Any proof that the bolded part is true? I'm going to say no.....

Dai John · 08-12-2013 04:45PM

At one time taxi-driving was a protected occupation, only Saudis were allowed to do this job. Aside from that, I would say they woke up one morning and realised that they are vastly outnumbered in their own country, and many of these are from countries where there are internal problems. There are many factions within Islam fighting each other to complicate things further, but they feel they have to allow Muslims make their Hadj and visit Mecca and Medina (this is how many enter illegally). Yes they are paranoid but with so many counties collapsing around them why wouldn't they be ? There were hundreds if not thousands killed during trouble at Mecca a few years ago, the oil wealth of Saudi makes it very attractive place to take over and there are only a few centres of population despite it's huge size.

preston johnny · 08-12-2013 05:14PM

_Redzer_ wrote: »

I'd nearly say they'd be better off out of the regressive hole that is Saudi Arabia. Medieval cesspit

Well said.

A nation void of liberties, ruled by uneducated Bedouin who a century ago contributed nothing to the wellbeing of mankind. The only thing they contribute now just so happens to be the lifeblood of the industrial world - oil. And that too only because foreigners are there to do the dirty work for them.

Nodin · 08-12-2013 05:45PM

preston johnny wrote: »

Well said.

A nation void of liberties, ruled by uneducated Bedouin who a century ago contributed nothing to the wellbeing of mankind. The only thing they contribute now just so happens to be the lifeblood of the industrial world - oil. And that too only because foreigners are there to do the dirty work for them.

.....really? Bad and all as they are, the notion they're uneducated is laughable.

preston johnny · 08-12-2013 06:29PM

Nodin wrote: »

.....really? Bad and all as they are, the notion they're uneducated is laughable.

Well if you think educated means the compulsory studying of Islam at University and memorization of the Qur'an, then yes.

Saudi Arabia to expel up to 2 million workers

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