I work for one of those 50% joint ventures you mentioned above.....it's core buisness is oil and gas, I consider it an extension of the Qatari State and see that it should encourage as many qualified Qataris to work in the industry as possible - I have no problem with that. What is under the ground(its core buisness) belongs to Qatar Government(well actually the Emir who economically sates the Qatari public by his own will- it doesn't really belong to the people/government of Qatar, such is the political system here). Hence the company is part of the 'welfare/rentier state'. And if the Government want to pay Qatari employees 60% extra that is their right and have to live with the political/economic consequences of their decision, good or bad.
However the private sector proper can not attract the percentage of Qataris demanded by Qatarization due to many factors:
a) not enough Qatari population to fulfil 25% of private sector jobs
b) even less suitably qualified Qartari poulation to do said jobs
c) Not enough Qataris apply to the privite sector because the public sector offers far better benefits - even if the company wants to fill their quota they can't.
d) Market forces just don't allow the company to exist if they fill their quota and meet the expectations of Qataris in the public sector.
e) Many Qatarization jobs, as you say, are pretty meaningless clerical non jobs which demoralize Qataris hence they leave to find better jobs in the public sector.
In short - keep the Qatarization process in such companies as QP QF, QD, barwa, UDC and the truly Government State Sector but abandon it completely in the private sector proper.
The very long term solution is education - over several generations Qataris need to make themselves attractive to employ in the private sector - become a meritocracy, those that work harder or smarter reap the greater benefit. Obviously this will mean that some will do less well than others and safety nets should be provided for those that fall on hard times, but this is better IMHO than all relying on the largese of an unelected government simply by the accidental fortunes of fate of being born a Qatari - not everyone can be top dog just because of where they were born on a map without hard work and commitment.
Now I don't mean to interfere in the aspect of Qatari society or politics as that is not my right or really my concern - I'm just giving my opinion, for what it's worth.
I work for one of those 50% joint ventures you mentioned above.....it's core buisness is oil and gas, I consider it an extension of the Qatari State and see that it should encourage as many qualified Qataris to work in the industry as possible - I have no problem with that. What is under the ground(its core buisness) belongs to Qatar Government(well actually the Emir who economically sates the Qatari public by his own will- it doesn't really belong to the people/government of Qatar, such is the political system here). Hence the company is part of the 'welfare/rentier state'. And if the Government want to pay Qatari employees 60% extra that is their right and have to live with the political/economic consequences of their decision, good or bad.
However the private sector proper can not attract the percentage of Qataris demanded by Qatarization due to many factors:
a) not enough Qatari population to fulfil 25% of private sector jobs
b) even less suitably qualified Qartari poulation to do said jobs
c) Not enough Qataris apply to the privite sector because the public sector offers far better benefits - even if the company wants to fill their quota they can't.
d) Market forces just don't allow the company to exist if they fill their quota and meet the expectations of Qataris in the public sector.
e) Many Qatarization jobs, as you say, are pretty meaningless clerical non jobs which demoralize Qataris hence they leave to find better jobs in the public sector.
In short - keep the Qatarization process in such companies as QP QF, QD, barwa, UDC and the truly Government State Sector but abandon it completely in the private sector proper.
The very long term solution is education - over several generations Qataris need to make themselves attractive to employ in the private sector - become a meritocracy, those that work harder or smarter reap the greater benefit. Obviously this will mean that some will do less well than others and safety nets should be provided for those that fall on hard times, but this is better IMHO than all relying on the largese of an unelected government simply by the accidental fortunes of fate of being born a Qatari - not everyone can be top dog just because of where they were born on a map without hard work and commitment.
Now I don't mean to interfere in the aspect of Qatari society or politics as that is not my right or really my concern - I'm just giving my opinion, for what it's worth.
:)