Expats a threat to GCC identity
DOHA: Dubai’s Police Chief yesterday agreed to a suggestion that if the population of expatriate workers continued to rise in the GCC at the current pace, the day is not far when its citizens would be marginalised and become like Red Indians
in the US.
“Yes, the possibility of GCC nationals turning into a minority in their own countries cannot be ruled out if a law is, for instance, enforced making expatriates naturalised citizens,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Dahi Khalfan last night.
He was responding to questions from the audience at the popular monthly call-in programme of Qatar Television titled ‘Laqum Al Qarar’ (The Decision is Yours).
The audience comprised mostly young citizens—both men and women—from across the Gulf, including Oman, UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain. Qatari participants were, though, in the majority.
The topic of the discussion was ‘Whether the rising numbers of foreign workers posed a serious threat to the GCC identity and culture’ and if so, what steps the governments in the region could take to reduce the ‘danger’.
If the GCC governments do not take ‘bold steps’ to check the inflow of foreign workforce, a day could come when locals would be marginalised in their own countries and become like Red Indians in the US, he said.
Citing examples, he said look at the ‘Malabaris’ (a reference to Indians from Kerala) and Iranians who come here and run small neighbourhood stores and eventually become millionaires.
“Why can’t we run these stores which, after all, we legally own? But we are shy of doing such work,” he said in a veiled criticism of his own people and their ‘snobbish’ attitude.
An Indian driver is hired by a GCC household and then he manages to bring a relative even if there is no job for him. The relative hunts for a job and lands one. This is an unending chain, hinted Khalfan. He said the ministers should bring to the notice of the GCC rulers the rising threat the heavy influx of foreign workers poses to GCC identity
and culture.
Asked if the problem could be tackled to some extent if more workers were brought from sister Arab countries, Khalfan quipped: “I do agree that they (Arab expatriates) are better than non-Arabs.”
In this regard, he said Asian workers (a reference to non-Arabs) were the ones who have raised the issue of human rights in the GCC. The anchor of the programme called Hassan Al Mohannadi of Qatar’s Permanent Population Committee and wanted to know the adverse impact of the rising inflow of foreign workers. Al Mohannadi said increasing incidence of crime, perversion, behavioural disorders and diseases were the
major fallout.
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/136916-expats-a-threat-to-gcc-ide...
identity hasn't really been touched upon in this thread.
It could happen. It's happening in the UK.
Danger?? Threat to GCC identity?? As soon as the income from oil starts drying up, the expats will start leaving.
"He said the ministers should bring to the notice of the GCC rulers the rising threat the heavy influx of foreign workers poses to GCC identity and culture."
There are already millions of us here.... I doubt there will be much more of an influx, but more just a continued entrance and exit of different people...
where have any GCC countries ever said they will ever nationalise expats?
Its not something thats being discussed, nor do I believe its something coming up for discussion - Its a different scenario with Iranians/Yemenis that have lived here for many years and deserve those perks, but other nationalities?
I don't know what he's panicking about.... its not gonna happen.
Got it Brit except the "turning in to"!!!!???. hasnt it "turned" ages back? eg Qatar is 250000 to 1 million plus.
You are missing the crux of this ...
"..the possibility of GCC nationals turning into a minority in their own countries cannot be ruled out if a law is, for instance, enforced making expatriates naturalised citizens"
This is his main worry......
GCC cant survive and grow wihout expats, period.
Dubai Police chief himself will be having a dozen househelps from Asia.
GCC should make education mandatory for their citizens, atleast the 3rd or 4th generation from now will be able to work and behave like the rest of the world.
GCC leaders always prise that the Indians community in the GCC is the better manpower and less problems making community here.
But thay wants to bring their own nationals in the work force, first of all GCC national to change their mind set & attitudes towards to the jobs. They only looking for executive jobs and they can't work the place without airconditioners where the expatriate labors working.
who asked them to bring workers?
they can deport all expat. today and all of them will leave the GCC.
consider the following
1.the economy of GCC will break down when they stop bringing expatriates from different countries rather than MENA (Middle East and North Africa)
.
2.no one from MENA will do some jobs that Asians do in GCC.
3.MENA countries dont trust one another , so bringing people from other Arab countries to work in GCC is a threat to GCC
4.other Arab nations will try to conquer the systems of GCC if the door is open for them only to work in GCC.
5.Asian countries have VERY cheap labors, so when Asians are stopped not to work in GCC .. that means turing into expensive labor forces in MENA.
So the locals will build the stadiums and roads hotels for Qatar 2022 wht!!!!!!!!!! just imagine.... than Qatar 2022 will be Qatar 2077.
Yep sure smoke, for all you know Qatar can even win the 2022 bid. oh wait.....
These statements are usually made by officials to "guage" the public mood and responses.
Remember a thread about a year ago which ran into reams of pages, about the maids from Saudi coming into Qatar to work?
When I say maids from Saudi, I mean maids that are Saudi women....
This kind of statement isn't going to make this poor man popular!!!!
"
“Why can’t we run these stores which, after all, we legally own? But we are shy of doing such work,” he said in a veiled criticism of his own people and their ‘snobbish’ attitude."
deepb anything can happen...;)
I don't get why they are so paranoid, when naturalization does not happen.....
So whats wrong with that then? Why not give citizenship to those that fit the bill? I think it will be a great idea :)
well said my frnd.......
You are looking at it from too narrow a perspective. Their long term fear is "naturalisation" of expatriates.
When Saudi Arabia joined the WTO, this was one of the first things discussed.
or imagine a petrol station run by locals with a sheesha joint behind it
May be they should get DIY stadium kits?
Imagine a population of 200,000 putting up the required facilities for 2022.
They said it themselves, why not run your legally owned shops, the groceries, your petrol pumps, sweep your own roads and then may be you might have a point to talk about.
Don't blame the expats for coming in and working for a living. You need a driver to drive you around town? Drive your own damn car then. Pack and push the shopping cart to your car yourself. Get your fat arse's out of the car and walk to the grocery instead of honking.
First of all they are not yet competent enough to handle certain jobs here. The attitude of 'neighbouring arabs' are different. Neighbouring arabs can not be forced to do certain odd jobs and also can not be forced to continue working for long years unlike other Asians do here. To reduce the dependency on the Asian expatriates, the Arabs must learn to work at all level including construction to cleaing. Do you think any genaration of Arabs will be interested to do those odd jobs ? And it is not a wise way to judge everyone in general. There are expatriate who has been living and working here for years without causing even a small problem to his neighbourhood and the society, silently contributing in building todays' Qatar. And I don't think there has been any procession or any kind of pressure from the Asian expatriate to naturalized them.
edited: [sorry for the double post]
guilt,
this is QL, lots of haters and racists :)
Khalfan quipped: “I do agree that they (Arab expatriates) are better than non-Arabs.” A big HUH? with lots of ??????????????
What about Lebanese? They are arab speaking people and should be a threat as well!
Sami_26, You should not pin point any particular Nationality here as the thread is mentioning expatriates without any discrimination.
The difference now is that as their societies and cultures change - many conservatives begin to ask why.
the easiest way is to blame the expatriates...
They should get rid of the Indians and all will be great ....
They should get rid of the 'danger' in a phased manner. They must increase the competency levels of the local workforce and focus on educating the youth and provide them vocational training.
Expats run the show for now.
This issue has been discussed by the GCC countries years back and they were not worried of any such negative aspects.
World is a global village now, no one is better than other only because one is from arabian territory or western country. If the person doesnt pose as a threat to the society or country then ofcourse he is better than the nationals of any country.
its easier to handle the persons from sub-continent.
Some valid points. this issue has been discussed in the media so mnay times..
The simple fact is that there are not enough locals to do all the jobs even if they wanted to (apart from Saudi Arabia)..
Also, due to the politics, most gulf countries do not want an influx of workers from "sister Arab countries"..
The change in society is inevitable. It can be slowed, but cannot be stopped..