Bridging the gap..
Citizens and expatriates have been living in peaceful coexistence in the GCC countries for decades since the early days of oil discovery, and if there were social strains and segregation, they were buried deep under the social crust.
The issue came to the fore in the region after a local columnist recently made accusations against the Western top brass of Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) that they were abusing power.
The writing led to an intense debate in the social media in Qatar and in the region about the role of Western expatriates.
This is especially true of NGOs (in some GCC countries) that are said to have immense cash at their disposal.
Asian expatriates are viewed by locals differently. Since they are mostly in private jobs that locals abhor due to lower pay and perks, there is hardly any clash of interest.
“Moreover, Asians, particularly Indians, have been closer to our culture for centuries. They were early migrants, with inter-marriages with them,” said a senior local journalist.
And although many Indians (read Keralites) literally came here as janitors and labourers, they became general managers and businessmen — something locals feel proud of. “They worked hard. They are loyal. They have been here for decades,” said the scribe.
“The westerners stay here for a few years with the intention of making money and then they leave,” said the scribe.
“Invariably all such jobs are in the state or mixed sectors and filled up largely by Westerners, and that explains the clash,” a community elder said. The problem with locals is that according to their own community sources, is that when they take up a job as a fresh graduate in an organisation, they are happy.
“This happiness lasts for a few years, and they gradually become resentful after that, and then turn jealous of their expatriate bosses and colleagues,” said the elder.
“The biggest attraction for the westerners in the GCC countries is that their income is tax free,
An Indian said he preferred a Briton as manager of the trading company he works for, than a fellow Indian. “Indian managers are more exploitative, selfish and parochial and tend to fill the organization with realtives,the extended family, friends and buddies from back home
“You don’t pay more to a Westerner because he has white skin. The skin is a symbol of professionalism.”
Locals just want to become managers. Their only claim to plush posts is that they are locals. “That’s no logic. These countries would suffer if you entrust crucial jobs with them. Most locals only crave for top designations, fat salaries and Land Cruisers.”
“Having a few Westerners on your team gives you that air of acceptance and respectability,” he said.
He said that even China hires Westerners to sit on board of directors’ positions, but in reality they do nothing at all.
http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/252032-striking-a-balance.html
DOHA: One Western expatriate said he wondered why such accusations were not being made against ‘Asian expatriates’, some of whom have been working in “enviable” positions here for many years.
“I hate to say this but some Arabs think Asians are less than them. They have an in-built inferiority complex against Westerners,” a British expatriate, who did not want his name in print, said.
http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/252034-bridging-the-citizen-expat-gap.html
So unfair..
An Indian said he preferred a Briton as manager of the trading company he works for, than a fellow Indian. “Indian (they could be Indian, Lankan or even Pakistani) managers are more exploitative, selfish and parochial and tend to fill the organization with relatives,the extended family, etc
I'm not arguing about paying taxes in the US. My husband and I are the beneficiaries of the best public education in the world. Our top taxes in the US are about 33%, better than the UK, the EU or Canada. There are benefits to living in the US and living abroad as a US citizen. If there were not, there wouldn't be so much fuss about immigration.
Mandi
And although many Indians and south asians literally came here as tea boys, drivers, janitors and labourers, they become general managers of the juice shops, restaurants and the little companies.
So they get American Security across the world for paying the taxes, Mandi!
However good article. Keralites (read MALLUS) have truly been the brand ambassadors of India in Gulf (read as "GELF").
There are so many westerners highly paid and not highly qualified. I mean, some Asians can do the job better but by being westerners, they are preferred.
Accordingly, locals, most of them can't fill the shoes of Expats simply because, they are a little bit lazy.
I worked in the Saudi Arabia before and because of Saudization, the company is forced to hire locals to go with the law. The result? Two persons are hired to do the job, a local who does nothing and can't do anything except taking tea and the Asian who is hired to do the job of a local.
I must quibble with the "tax free" statement. Americans pay taxes in the US on foreign earned income.
Mandi
I think the whole world is copy paste. Sometimes you copy from books, sometimes from nature, sometimes from ancestors.
It is of course a very good post with a real dogma of expatriates situation.
U got no other job other than doing copy and paste
Very good read and very true. Salaries should be based on qualification.
This is TRUE indeed.