http://www.arabnews.com/?page=13§ion=0&article=111875&d=17&m=7&y=2008&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Local%20Press
Wednesday 16 July 2008 (12 Rajab 1429)
Give them citizenship
Abdullah Al-Nowaisser | Al-Madinah -
That non-Saudi section of society which has been living among us for
decades and adopted our culture and customs should be legally recognized. This
would allow these people to come out of hiding and become an alternative source
of manpower to foreign laborers.
We appreciate this group that has helped throughout the years to build
our country and still contributes to the Kingdom's development. This group
lives among us responsibly and with respect. I think giving such people
citizenship would be an organized way of keeping those who we need.
There are an estimated seven million foreign workers - one third of our
population - in the Kingdom. In addition to the demographic and social
imbalance that these workers can cause us, many of them, especially domestic
workers, create serious problems.
Overstayers also create trouble and bring with them problems that the
Kingdom has always been unfamiliar with. Overstayers first came to the Kingdom
after the door of recruitment was opened; now we are suffering because of this.
Some Saudis have, unfortunately, compounded this problem by dealing in the
unethical business of selling visas. They have compromised the Kingdom's
security by recruiting thousands of foreigners just to make a little profit.
According to some estimates, there are nearly four million non-Saudis who
have been living in the Kingdom for decades and have adapted to our culture,
religion and traditions. This segment is not formally recognized. People in
this conundrum cannot work officially and cannot enroll their kids in
government schools. Ignorance and poverty is common among them.
Although a similar suggestion has been made before, I propose the same
once again. Maybe this suggestion will be heard and an appropriate solution
found. I suggest such people should be given some sort of status, which would
enable them to come out of hiding and be an alternative source of manpower.
By granting them some type of identification, their young could enroll in
schools. Instead of bringing in workers from abroad, these people could work
unskilled jobs. By doing this, we can reduce the number of foreigners in our
midst and protect our society from people who are strangers to our values and
culture.
