Expatriates’ Impact on Gulf’s Labor, Social Situation
Tarik Al Maeena
Arab News Columnist
Earlier this month, the Bahraini minister of labor made many a heart flutter when he announced that his country would propose a 6-year residency cap on all expatriates working in the Gulf during the next GCC summit scheduled for December this year.
The kingdom would table this motion at the Doha summit as part of its concern over what is being viewed as a gradual erosion of social mores and culture. Bahrain also feels expatriates are taking away much needed jobs from the locals.
With over 14 million expatriates in the region, the UAE Labor Minister Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka’abi said the issue would be on top of the agenda. UAE, he said, shared Bahrain’s concern on this issue.Plans that could see millions of people forced out of the Gulf under a six-year residency limit for expatriate workers took a step closer last Monday when the UAE said the Emirates will back the proposal at a meeting of GCC labor ministers to be held in Riyadh next month.
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