The discussion of how inhuman practices are spread in our ‘low class’ labor market is not new to the public scene, but it is an issue we just like to pretend it does not exist! It is no secret, to almost anybody, that these people are abused in so many ways. They are over worked and under paid. And do not let me start talking about their housing, medical coverage, and their overall humanistic well being.
Most Saudi companies are, unfortunately, part of this mess. Most of them are outsourcing these small-low-service jobs to few companies in the market without any kind of supervision or intervention. They just want to pay the least amount of money to get the job done … and that’s it! On the other hand, while the service companies are winning millions because of these contracts, they are giving the field workers the crumbs, if not less than that!
And let’s just get few steps away from the humanistic dimension of the problem. How these companies are expecting those workers to perform while living in such conditions. what kind of management and what kind of workers motivation is this?
I cannot comment much on Nathan’s post, it is self-explanatory, but I really hope this incident will be investigated by the KAUST administration. And that director who spelled those ugly-full-of racism comments about those poor workers to be investigated and even taken to court if found guilty. This should not be happening in the gate of our future! This is should not be happening in front of our guests who are coming from all over the world!
A very sad story. Service workers are real too!
Indeed they are Jerry … indeed they are!
[...] Nathan has a disturbing blogpost about discrimination at KAUST. “[T]he injustice and prejudice against foreign workers runs deep here,” he says. I agree. Saad Al Dossari has a good follow up. [...]
Thank you Nathan. Thank you Saad. This simple exchange of ideas is the sort of “great awakening” and dialogue KAUST is meant to empower inside and outside the classroom.
KAUST students have a special place full of opportunities.
I hope they/we will build a great and proud legacy for the world to share. J.F Kennedy is often quoted as saying “For of those to whom much is given, much is required” during a speech to the Massachusetts State Legislature 12/9/61.
But, it came from somewhere else too: “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required…”
(Luke 12:48a)
In šāʾ Allāh (إن شاء الله) God Willing. Blessings on KAUST.
Hi Chris and thanks for this valuable comment …
I agree with you that we are waiting, and wanting, so much out from KAUST; and that’s exactly why this particular incident is so disturbing.
I am not surprised…KAUST is in Saudi Arabia, so why should it be any different? The great facilties of KAUST and the WOW factor must not let us forget that it is still part of the Saudi culture…
Great buildings and money don’t change minds…maybe after 10 years, when we see KAUST’s gradutaes, we would see a difference…maybe…
thanks Saad for this great post…check out my post on discrimination in my Arabic blog..it tackles the same topic…
http://alturl.com/a3s7
Maha Noor Elahi
Hello Maha …
I am afraid it is really hard to argue with your point above because you are somehow right. But still, as we are looking to KAUST as the new path Saudi Arabia has decided to take to the future and modernization, hearing that story was nothing but a shock. The fact of the matter is that there are no excuses, whatsoever, to maintain such practices, whether in KAUST or anywhere else for that matter.
And your Arabic post is interesting, Maha. It is again sad to admit that we have many characters in our society who are practicing such racism. We are not unique in this, a lot of countries do such practices, but this is again not an excuse, we should be better than that.
Injustice is everywhere at KAUST. Not only regarding to the workers, but also within the administrations.
Just now, an administrative American (in charge with booking tickets) told me that (s)he was very frustrated, because he’s Saudi colleague does not help her at all. However, the guy can still hold the position because of his nationality. An Indian guy, who in charge of this did a lot of work and is very friendly, was removed from the position.
Also, the scholarship for the students is not merit based. But somewhat based on nationality, when a KFUPM Syrian student with GPA3.9 gets 20,000/Y, a U.S. student with GPA3.5 may get 26,000/Y.
It’s very interesting to find the Saudis like a western passport so many, even in their own country, even they are always treated as “people from special region” when they get into the border of U.S.
I regard KAUST as a rehearse. Hope the next “King University” can be listed as a top university.
I am really sorry to know such insider information about KAUST … However, I still have hope that this University will be different, and it must has its own correction mechanisms! I said I hope!
Saad, you have a message and a big dream but unfortunately in the wrong night. I am a Saudi person and I tell you that, we cannot stop discremination between the Saudis themselves. Our country has turned to a hell, everybody disrespects the other based on his family roots or accent and of course with skin color. This American guy was a 100% right and no one could argue it. I have posted an article before on yahoo groups and a lot of Saudi people agreed with me but in general, most of the citizens are racist somehow.
Hello Londony ans welcome to the Blog.
I really do not want think of the Saudi picture from such a dark angel, but I cannot again say that you are totally wrong.
All in all, it is about hope that should be energizing us all to always moving forward.
Saad – very hopeful, and the real basis for hope is that Saudi Arabia has finally become sufficiently self confident that it will permit negative stories to be exposed, rather than sweeping them under the table and expelling or penalizing the messenger. Only a strong country can tolerate meaningful criticism and respond to it directly.
Nothing to add here Anon, I agree with all what you’ve said …
saad i am from Pakistan. i would like to know about any pakistani student enrolled for masters in mechnical engineering at kaust.
i have applied to this university but i am not sure about my admission. is the admission criteria tough?
regards,
Naveed
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