Who is the most engaged — Qatari or expat workforce?
It is an ongoing debate in Qatar and the GCC in general — who is the most productive workers of all, the nationals or expatriates?
The debate was recently inflamed when human resources and management consulting service Aon Hewitt published a report stating that Qatari employees demonstrated the highest engagement among national employees in the GCC, while expats working in Qatar were the least engaged of all the expats in the region.
Employee engagement expert Dr Sharoq Al Malki, in an opinion piece in The Peninsula, tried to look at the debate objectively.
The case for Qatari nationals
“Those claiming that of the two, it’s the Qataris who’re more engaged point to several examples where Qataris have led successful showcase projects in the country, against cases where those led by expats have failed. There’re also instances where projects that have been successfully completed by nationals have come in on or even under budget, whereas similarly successful projects run by expats have come in over budget,” he wrote.
He said that some people felt while Qataris helped create a healthy and attractive working environment, there were instances of some expats creating a toxic work culture. Added to it is the accusation of expats preferring people from their own nationality around them.
There are also people who argue that while Qataris are keen to build the company for the future, expat workers are more concerned about their own contracts with the company. It has also been accused that some expats try and eliminate Qataris from career development and success.
The case for the expatriates
There are some strong arguments going for the expatriate work force as well. As a rule, expatriates will always arrive at work and start in good time, whereas some Qataris do not. Another argument is that expatriates often stay behind late to complete work, while some Qataris leave office early for family reasons, leaving the work incomplete.
While most expats have extremely good presentation skills, many Qataris feel too shy or lack in confidence to present. The expat workforce often has long work experience, while Qataris are much younger and inexperienced.
Conclusion
Dr Sharoq says that such an argument can go back and forth forever and never reach a definitive conclusion.
A study like this, without a customised engagement definition, will always be flawed. What could be essential to define engagement on one side, may only be a “nice to have” on the other.
As a nation, and as individual businesses, the country needs both a good local workforce and a high quality expat workforce. We need them to work together in harmony, for the common good. Picking over who’s better is not beneficial for anyone.
He concludes the opinion piece by saying that a Qatari — the same as with any other nationality — will always like to have the ownership and the pride of their country.
hello to all you Yeah not all people is honest not all people is good some bad some good that is the Part of life and art of life. workforce more of Filipinos is hard working that is thru, so Filipinos are proud,Yeah...
hello to all you Yeah not all people is honest not all people is good some bad some good that is the Part of life and art of life. workforce more of Filipinos is hard working that is thru, so Filipinos are proud,Yeah...
see in this thread, how many comments are brooding with insecurity towards Filipinos lol time to work guys, or should we say, "enslavement" lol
@Mufti Shahid: your out of topic and what can you say about carz comments?
Anyways is a colloquial variant of the word anyway
It is 'anyway' not 'anyways'
@Mufti Shahid: Wow you are a great historian! hahaha philippino? its filipino bro! I didn't say that only malays are the native of sabah. yes asli, Suluk and ilanon are natives of Sabah. you are an expert of malay history brother i bow to your wisdom. But something is wrong I am not desperate because I don't need to apply which is who already I am. I have families in both malaysia and philippines who DID'NT MIGRATE. I didnt say that chinese and indian are bad in malaysia. all I'm saying is stay out of our politics. This is not of your concern. BTW most of the malays in mindanao don't consider themselves as Filipinos. But i consider myself as Johor malay and Filipino. Anyways brother its been good talking to you.
Hamzah: If you knew a bit about colonial history, you wouldn't have made such a silly comment. Dislocation of population was common during colonial rule. Like you have thousands of Malays living in South-Africa who were brought there by Colonialist. Same happened with Indians and Chinese who were settled in present day Malaysia before colonial rule ended. they didnt migrate out of their own choice. Once colonial rule ended world boundaries were defined and whosoever was settled then became citizen. This Sulu kingdom is the thing of past, and history cannot be reversed. And dont tell me Malays are original inhabitants, they too have come from elsewhere. As I said before original inhabitants are ORANG ALSI not MALAYs. And if it was not for Chinese, Malaysia would have been a poor country. 90% businesses are run by them. Now I get it, lloks like you are Phillipino and desperate to live in Malaysia, hence this Sulu theory.
@dhawanjiten: I am not criticizing india brother look at the comment of Carz. it will make your blood boil.
@mufti shahid This doesn't give them automatically the right to reside? Have you read Sabah history at all?? google sultanante of sulu. if some indian and chinese can be given citizenship why ETHNIC MALAYS be denied? you are saying that because you have 0 knowledge about malay history. It's really funny that a person from different part of the world tell me about MY PEOPLE'S history who doesn't have a single drop of malay blood in his veins. anyways salam bro.
Damn it.... I knew i should blame someone for buttons on flies :O(
@hamzah1234: First of all writing like these about any nationality is not good. There is no between being productive at work by taking bath 3 times a day and smelling good. If it would be like that then China would not be world second largest power and Chinese product would not be everywhere. Further first study more about India and then go for comparison. Here are somethings for your knowledge:
1. India gave the world its first university - Takshashila University.
2. India gave the world the numeral, Zero.
3. The game of Chess originated in India.
4. Indians were the first ones to use and invent buttons.
5. Shampoo originated from India.
6. India gave the c ure for Leprosy.
7. Snakes and Ladders was inspired from an Indian game called Mokshapat.
8. Ayurveda originated from India.
9. Bhaskaracharya rightly calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun.
10. Buddhism and Jainism originated in India.
11. Indians were the first ones to describe the Fibonacci pattern of numbers.
12. Cataract surgery was first found in ancient India.
13. Crescograph is an Indian invention.
14. Indians discovered the cashmere wool.
15. USB was developed and defined by Ajay V. Bhatt, who is an Indian-American computer architect.
16. India invented card game called Suits.
17. India taught the world to cultivate Jute.
18. And described Trigonometric functions.
19. The Pentium Chip was invented by an Indian (Vinod Dham).
20. India gave candied sugar to the world.
There are more and more and more, So never comment on any nationality.
Everyone loves their nationality !!!!
Slightly we are not the same Nationality we have difference Attitude regarding the Workforce for me i come to Qatar and find the job, my Company good some people good some people Bad, if theirs problem regarding the work site, inside the Office, they are like Tiger, shouting, same Nationality, Arabic language. they are telling more nonsense, words,,, Yallah ....heheee
Hamza: So what if people of southern Thailand and Philippines are Malays. This doesn't give them a right to automatically settle in Malaysia. It is named Malaysia because majority of the population are Malays, otherwise the original inhabitants are ORANG ASLI (Tribals).
Check the population of Sabah in 60's, it was predominantly inhabited by local Sabahans not by Malays or people from South Phillippines. Now after settling illegal immigrants from South Philippines, demography has changed.
BTW Johor is a nice place, I like it. I like its Sultan & Raja Muda. They are wonderful people unlike UMNO thugs.
@Mufti Shahid: Mindanao? Try JOHOR! lol where did you get that information? Wikipedia? Those mindanao Illegal Immigrant you say from mindanao are the Natives of Sabah. if you can search in google and put sultanate of sulu you can read the whole history there. First of all it is malays who immigrated to mindanao way back before they are just coming back to their native land. People from mindanao, Pattani(Which you call "Southern Thailand") and Aceh indonesia are ethncic MALAYS. the country is called MALAYsia right? why are you soo of topic anyways I'm just battling the racist comment of carz
@Mufti Shahid: Mindanao? Try JOHOR! lol where did you get that information? Wikipedia? Those mindanao Illegal Immigrant you say from mindanao are the Natives of Sabah. if you can search in google and put sultanate of sulu you can read the whole history there. First of all it is malays who immigrated to mindanao way back before they are just coming back to their native land. People from mindanao, Pattani(Which you call "Southern Thailand") and Aceh indonesia are ethncic MALAYS. the country is called MALAYsia right? why are you soo of topic anyways I'm just battling the racist comment of carz
//over 400 years of british rule//
Hamza@ You are indeed an ill-informed person. Get yous facts right.
Now coming to you, I think you are from Mindanao,Philippines and perhaps settled in Malaysia. There are lots of them living in Malaysia especially in Sabah state. Hundred and thousands of illegal immigrants from South Philippines were given citizenship by Malaysian govt. to reduce the population of Indians (mostly Hindus), Chinese (Buddhists, Christians)
and Natives(Orang Alsi). Though I am not suggesting that you are one among them. Problem in Malaysia is that immigrants from Southern Philippines, Southern Thailand & Indonesia try to be more loyal that the king there and are a major vote bank for ruling party UMNO.
@carz: I am half filipino and I found your comments to be offensive sir! LOL smelly ladies? we are the cleanest race we take a bath 3 times a day compared to other nationality who smells like dead rat! It is indians who spoiled the market not us okay? you got the wrong nationality my racist friend.You are just jealous because we are talented and WE SPEAK BETTER ENGLISH than most of you retards! over 400 years of british rule and can't even speak the damn language.
@carz: I am half filipino and I found your comments to be offensive sir! LOL smelly ladies? we are the cleanest race we take a bath 3 times a day compared to other nationality who smells like dead rat! It is indians who spoiled the market not us okay? you got the wrong nationality my racist friend.You are just jealous because we are talented and WE SPEAK BETTER ENGLISH than most of you retards! over 400 years of british rule and can't even speak the damn language.
@NerdStark: Yes you are right because they are so subservient and could easily be enslaved.
hello honest regarding workforce they are compering some people they are hard working some people they are only looking their on Position inside the Company that i observed from Another Nationality, and More Talk Talk Talking but regarding the work Nothing. if come the Problem they fighting, more Talk Talking Bad words, Allah Allah karim ,
This is an amateur sht piece written by a college kid, who is obviously living in a bubble.
QL standards !
@Harry99: You filipinos are the one who spoiled the job market in Qatar. Ready to do job for 1000,2000, 2500 Qr. and your smelly ladies keep flirting with Egyptian men....
These kind of things make me laugh LOL
These kind of surveys serve no purpose. Employers should make employees (Locals or Expats) work. If they don't, kick them out.
@Harry99: yep. may be biased but when I look at other employees here from other countries, all they do is TALK TALK TALK. when the going gets tough, the problem is passed on to which people? it's the FILIPINOS: silently doing what needs to be done.
I am assuming that you are a Filipino ;)
pointless comparison. the more interesting comparison would have to be among expats: WHICH NATIONALITIES ARE MORE PRODUCTIVE?
if you ask me, in my company: FILIPINOS.
'nuff said.
Slightly biased piece in my humble opinion.
There are strong cases for both sides. There are good workers and bad workers on both sides.