http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/17/obstacles-for-saudis-seeking-work/ Informed comment and commentary about Saudi Arabia, reform, and its relations with the US Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:58:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/17/obstacles-for-saudis-seeking-work/comment-page-1/#comment-16982 Oman Virtually Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:02:43 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=6026#comment-16982 Oman which has a similar mix (by raw numbers) to Saudi is also trying to get more nationals into paid employment. Though I am in Oman I have worked in Saudi and appreciate that there is a different cultural background. In general attempts to create employment has been more successful when entire sections of work has been Omanised (all Taxi drivers, all grocery stores, all gas delivery etc) . That is not to say that’s its been great – many earn very low wages and are ‘thrown in at the deep end’ in employment areas where support (mentoring) or training would be ideal (the grocery stores are bleeding capital and are large numbers are closing - because of owners cash withdrawals, low margins and large supermarkets being still able to employ expats having an unfair cost advantage on top of all the other government subsidies large corporations receive). Young Omanis seem to succeed in small self-employed co-operatives (like gas deliveries) which gives them flexi time and fellow worker support. Entrenched work practices in large companies, income earned from visa issue both abroad and in Oman , and the continual flow of low wage competition mean that getting onto the employed job ladder is difficult. Add in the inability of employers to hire and fire (so they don’t hire) and if the young Omani does get in he may be faced with expat co-workers who view him as a threat to their own job security (remove that threat and a big barrier is removed) and its clear the hurdles to overcome are considerable. Yes, in Oman some may view work areas as beneath them – but others sweep roads, build buildings and work in hospitality fields. If the employment door is ajar it might surprise people who steps through. Oman which has a similar mix (by raw numbers) to Saudi is also trying to get more nationals into paid employment. Though I am in Oman I have worked in Saudi and appreciate that there is a different cultural background.
In general attempts to create employment has been more successful when entire sections of work has been Omanised (all Taxi drivers, all grocery stores, all gas delivery etc) .
That is not to say that’s its been great – many earn very low wages and are ‘thrown in at the deep end’ in employment areas where support (mentoring) or training would be ideal (the grocery stores are bleeding capital and are large numbers are closing – because of owners cash withdrawals, low margins and large supermarkets being still able to employ expats having an unfair cost advantage on top of all the other government subsidies large corporations receive).
Young Omanis seem to succeed in small self-employed co-operatives (like gas deliveries) which gives them flexi time and fellow worker support.
Entrenched work practices in large companies, income earned from visa issue both abroad and in Oman , and the continual flow of low wage competition mean that getting onto the employed job ladder is difficult.
Add in the inability of employers to hire and fire (so they don’t hire) and if the young Omani does get in he may be faced with expat co-workers who view him as a threat to their own job security (remove that threat and a big barrier is removed) and its clear the hurdles to overcome are considerable.
Yes, in Oman some may view work areas as beneath them – but others sweep roads, build buildings and work in hospitality fields.
If the employment door is ajar it might surprise people who steps through.

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