The proposed six-year residency cap on expatriate workers in the Gulf is unlikely to be introduced, senior officials told a newspaper on Saturday. “A proposal on a six-year residency cap on expatriates already exists. However, a ceiling on all expatriates working in the Gulf is unlikely, as all the Gulf states may not endorse a proposal of this magnitude in the near future,” Times of Oman quotes a sources close to Gulf policymakers.
The proposal looks to be going the same way as monetary union between Gulf states. Someone thinks it might be a good idea, but member states can’t agree on the details, or the deadline.
Worse still, the Times of Oman story suggests not everyone agrees there is a problem to solve. “Cheap foreign labor helps businesses earn better economic returns on their investments,” an Abu Dhabi-based businessman said on condition of anonymity. Beat that argument.
“Let me be frank,” says an Omani businessman. “Many expatriates, we know, are ready to do jobs that many of us, I mean, citizens, are not keen on.” The day a Sri Lankan expat in Dubai employs an Emirati as a maid might be the day the visa issue becomes redundant.
1 comment:
I agree, they'll never agree! But maybe the individual GCC states will come up with their own laws on the subject.
The original proposal was because there was concern that in future pressure would be brought by international bodies for citizenship rights after a certain number of years residency.
"The Bahraini minister is worried by the fact that under international labour treaties and global conventions expatriate workers and their families will be entitled to housing, education and health services and could also claim nationality after five years' residency.
That 'threat' won't go away...
Post a Comment