Why are foreigners preferred?The price for being a Yemeni national [Archives:2005/804/Opinion]

The private Yemeni capital which is supposed to contribute in the economy of the country and reflect a positive improvement in the social conditions of Yemenis, does sometimes employ some Yemenis who ought to be honored with good pay. But unfortunately we find “The Private Yemeni capital” extremely interested in recruiting foreign employees, not in rare specializations, but in normal positions mastered by a multitude of Yemenis.

In fact Yemenis have proven on many occasions that they are more successful because they do hail from the same environment and they will be serving their own people .

The distressing reality shows that our local capital diversifies its humiliation of Yemeni compatriots who exert much effort in the service of this country only to receive very low wages without any other privileges whatsoever.

On the other hand, the foreigner whether he/she be an Indian or from another Arab country, receives his or her salary in US dollars. Ironically such a foreigner in certain cases may receive an amount exceeding or equaling all the wages of the whole Yemeni Staff in such a private institution. So don't be amazed to find some of them smoking cigars instead of normal cigarettes!

Then we dare to ask whether Yemenis are aliens in their own land? After a few days from the arrival of the foreign employee we find him living in luxury having a good accommodation, a nice car and the latest prestigious cellular, all mostly given free. Don't we see that a generation after another is underway? How can we guarantee that their seething anger will not explode one day?

The president and the government should take avail of the Saudi and Omani experience in replacing foreigners with their own people before it is too late. The Private Business Sector should not be left alone to act whimsically.

And what is the use of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs? Don't we have a bit of honest state administration to cease such disgrace? Or are our responsible people beneficiaries of such infringements of good reason let alone the law?

Labor offices are deep asleep or have no powers, then what is the use of such institutions and their annual budgets if they cannot cease such corruption and perform their assumed duties. Or is it that they do not know their responsibilities?

I still remember how an American wanted to take his Yemeni gardener with him to his new post in another country and how that country refused to give that Yemeni a residence permit because his profession was not that rare and many nationals of that country could do the same job. Such employees find themselves unable to make ends meet and thus decide to leave the country.

I would like to give you a vivid image of this, a Yemeni would receive a monthly salary of YR15,000-YR30,000 i.e $75 to $150. The foreigner would receive $1,000 up to $6,000. I know cases where a foreigner receives $10,000 in addition to other privileges. Adding insult to injury the Yemeni pays taxes and the foreigner is exempted.

When it comes to incentives and occasional gratuities a Yemeni gets an amount equaling his basic salary and the foreigner double his full salary. The Yemeni employee is always under attack and continued harassment lest he fails to perform his job assignments while the foreigner always receives broad smiles and incessant compliments. When decisions are taken to raise salaries the Yemeni gets a 10 per cent raise in Yemeni Riyals and the foreigner 10% in US Dollars (see the difference!)

Do you think someone might read this and do something about it? Nope, everyone reads but all have dead consciences. They are in a valley and their compatriots are in another. Simply they are responsible with regard to foreigners. As for their own people, they are mere aliens. In such institutions the hard work is done by Yemenis.

This is urgent and the private sector must be forced by the government to employ Yemeni youth who are jobless roaming the streets aimlessly and likely to commit crimes, even in unwanted radical or terrorist groups.
——
[archive-e:804-v:13-y:2005-d:2005-01-06-p:opinion]