SA is a country with a population of some 25 million citizens. It is inevitable some of them will end up doing the "dirty work" (well, menial jobs really). Places like Bahrain and Dubai, that have pretty much exhausted their hydrocarbon reserves and revenues, have to look elsewhere for their income. I believe that Dubai at least has diversified enough to not need their citizens slaving away at cash registers. Government jobs are sensitive in nature and that's where they need their citizens. Furthermore a large chunk of these "Dubaians" are not tribal Arabs from the larger Arabian peninsula. Hell, a large portion of them are not Arabs at all ;) This shouldn't and largely doesn't matter but it is a fact. Besides, from the little I know of Arab attitudes and customs, most of them would rather be managing their own refreshment stall than being CEO's for some random, faceless corporation. I have to admit I agree with their sentiments, when it's mine, it's mine... I could never give the same devotion to another's no matter how much they pay me.
As for Kuwait, Abu Dhabi or Qatar doing this, I can only posit the inevitable Why? Do you think it is crucial to a nation's development that a certain portion of it's citizens is employed in low pay/high exploitation positions? Yeah, maybe for a week until they learn how "ground zero" of a business works, but in general, I beg to differ, adamantly in fact.
I think these rich governments should concern themselves more with encouraging entrepreneurial spirit and vision, if they have the means, why not? Arabs are natural traders, every single one of them. It's something they've done for millennia and most of them thoroughly enjoy it. They know all about customer service with a smile, as long as the business is their own. Sticking them in supermarkets is like pushing a square peg into a round hole. Counter intuitive, and their society has already perceived it as demeaning. Let nature do it's thing, there's always a rise and fall. Even if Gulf fortunes never cease, the Filipinos and Indians will eventually become rather expensive. That's when others, maybe even misfortunate locals will step in, but until then, why force them into profane ventures?
SA is a country with a population of some 25 million citizens. It is inevitable some of them will end up doing the "dirty work" (well, menial jobs really). Places like Bahrain and Dubai, that have pretty much exhausted their hydrocarbon reserves and revenues, have to look elsewhere for their income. I believe that Dubai at least has diversified enough to not need their citizens slaving away at cash registers. Government jobs are sensitive in nature and that's where they need their citizens. Furthermore a large chunk of these "Dubaians" are not tribal Arabs from the larger Arabian peninsula. Hell, a large portion of them are not Arabs at all ;) This shouldn't and largely doesn't matter but it is a fact. Besides, from the little I know of Arab attitudes and customs, most of them would rather be managing their own refreshment stall than being CEO's for some random, faceless corporation. I have to admit I agree with their sentiments, when it's mine, it's mine... I could never give the same devotion to another's no matter how much they pay me.
As for Kuwait, Abu Dhabi or Qatar doing this, I can only posit the inevitable Why? Do you think it is crucial to a nation's development that a certain portion of it's citizens is employed in low pay/high exploitation positions? Yeah, maybe for a week until they learn how "ground zero" of a business works, but in general, I beg to differ, adamantly in fact.
I think these rich governments should concern themselves more with encouraging entrepreneurial spirit and vision, if they have the means, why not? Arabs are natural traders, every single one of them. It's something they've done for millennia and most of them thoroughly enjoy it. They know all about customer service with a smile, as long as the business is their own. Sticking them in supermarkets is like pushing a square peg into a round hole. Counter intuitive, and their society has already perceived it as demeaning. Let nature do it's thing, there's always a rise and fall. Even if Gulf fortunes never cease, the Filipinos and Indians will eventually become rather expensive. That's when others, maybe even misfortunate locals will step in, but until then, why force them into profane ventures?